Sir, – I note the numerous political parties have stated their housing intentions if elected to form the next government.
All have lofty targets of build completions, a relatively small proportion of which are to be “affordable”. The rest are “unaffordable”, I presume. – Yours, etc,
RONAN PELOW,
Camolin,
Co Wexford.
Sir, – It has always been a source of bewilderment to me why the State makes wealthy people out of landowners through rezoning their land for residential purposes.
If the State acquired the land prior to rezoning (compulsorily, if necessary) with a reasonable premium to compensate the landowner, then the site value of residential would fall considerably, which should ensure that the cost of new houses would fall also.
We have been listening to all the complicated schemes by the various political parties on how they are, or planning to, address the issue but perhaps the solution really is simple.
It is way beyond time that the State supported the common good rather than the narrow interest of the individual. – Yours, etc,
PÁDRAIG KIERNAN,
Rathfarnham,
Dublin 16.