THE NEED for social housing in Ireland has grown to a level not seen since the mid-1960s, according to new research.
Official figures released last week show the number of households on social housing waiting lists has climbed to more than 56,000, a 100 per cent increase over the last decade.
Figures for 1964 produced by the housing charity, Respond, show the level of social housing need at that time was 60,000, albeit with a smaller overall population.
In response to the problem, Labour and Sinn Féin will join forces in the Dáil this week to call for a moratorium on house repossessions, an expanded programme of social housing and new measures to deal with the problem of homelessness.
Both parties will table a private members’ motion on the issue to be debated in the Dáil on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Sinn Féin’s housing spokesman Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD said that at a time of major social housing needs, the Government was falling behind its targets for providing social and affordable housing by as much as 40 per cent.
“At a time when housing need across the State remains high and the construction industry is in crisis, there is a responsibility on Government to increase investment in housing in order to stabilise the economy and meet housing need,” he said.
Labour’s housing spokesman Ciarán Lynch TD warned that an unprecedented number of families were facing the threat of having their homes repossessed.
“A spate of repossession orders in the new year could create a social disaster and the Government must now negotiate a moratorium on repossession orders for the duration of the recession.”
The motion also calls for new measures to deal with the problem of homelessness and stronger protection for tenants in rented accommodation.
The Government has insisted that the increase in waiting list numbers is partly linked to greater efforts by housing authorities to identify households which may have been under-represented in previous counts.
The impact of immigration has also led to an increase, with the proportion of EU nationals on housing lists soaring by 141 per cent over a three-year period.
Minister of State for housing Michael Finneran says the Government has responded by expanding its social housing investment programme with more than 9,000 local authority homes delivered last year.
Ned Brennan, chief operations officer of Respond, said while the rise in waiting lists figures was alarming, now was the best time to invest in social housing.
“This is the best time to invest in social housing as excellent value for money can be achieved,” Mr Brennan said. “We’re experiencing tender prices that are below the 2006 level.
