The Housing Commission’s confidential report that was set up to guide the Government’s housing strategies is a harsh critique of the Government’s execution, according to housing representative Eoin Ó Broin of Sinn Féin. The Commission has urged for a significant revamp of the housing policy, citing a potential deficit of up to 256,000 homes in Ireland, as reported by RTÉ this morning.
The report in question, which has been in the possession of the Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien for the past fortnight, is unlikely to be made public before it is presented to the Cabinet in the forthcoming weeks. The Commission is presumed to have emphasised the requirement for significantly greater annual housing goals.
In the report, the Commission highlights the prevalence of “impulsive decision making and policy planning based on risk aversion”.
RTÉ added that the report voices the need for “urgent action” to mitigate the persistent crisis.
During his discussion with RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, Mr Ó Broin declared: “This is not merely a report. The individuals involved here are key practitioners and experts in housing provision, and their insight reveals that the current Government’s housing plan is failing”.
“They are criticising not only this Government but also its forerunners for not treating housing as a crucial social and economic concern,” he added, “They further state that despite being one of the highest ranking in terms of public spending, the outcomes have been less than satisfactory”.
“The key issue here,” Mr Ó Broin stated, “is whether anyone truly believes that a government that insists on defending an ineffective housing policy will acknowledge these conclusions and implement a substantial policy revamp? I, for one, am sceptical. This is why we need a general election and a shift in government. Only a housing minister from Sinn Féin can deliver this essential reset.”
Upon arriving at this morning’s Cabinet gathering, Taoiseach Simon Harris expressed to journalists his significant pride in the current efforts being made in relation to housing. He highlighted the progress so far, citing the construction of over 32,000 homes last year and the beginnings of over 30,000 more homes already in the current year, signalling promising trends.
He emphasised the necessity of more ambition for a major shift in aspirations, assuring that the Government will regard all suggestions with serious consideration. He stressed the Government’s commitment to exploring new concepts and pioneering strategies to further escalate the provision of housing.
Mr Ó Broin, however, pointed blame at these individuals for originating the issue and voiced his criticism that they plan to only start resolving it now, after a 12-year period, suggesting that they ought to step aside.
Later in the day, the Dáil expects to engage in an extensive debate on housing lasting over four hours. They will discuss the Government’s overall plan for housing, followed by a motion from Sinn Féin on the issue later this evening.
[It should be noted that the number of abandoned and dilapidated houses repurposed for social housing unfortunately declined last year.]