Sir, – It was not surprising in the least to read that a proposed "new" Government plan to allow public lands to be sold to the Land Development Agency will not be open to proper public scrutiny by elected members of councils ("Councillors to be bypassed in land sale to State housing agency", News, February 5th).
Incredibly, regardless of what the plans are for such lands, elected councillors will not be allowed intervene where they believe any such sale would not best serve the public interest. It appears that some unelected entity will now hold sway.
The press release issued by the Government gives strong indication that this “plan” warrants the most stringent scrutiny.
In what appears to be an attempt to divert attention from the intention to lessen scrutiny, the Government has said that the new plan will increase the level for the provision of affordable homes built on such lands from 30 per cent to 50 per cent.
In other words, the plan envisages 50 per cent of any such developments to be unaffordable.
Why would the Government, in the current crisis, be planning to allow developments on public lands to be anything other than “affordable”?
A recent report from the Society of Chartered Surveyors tells us what “affordable” looks like. It found that the cheapest two-bed apartment currently available in Dublin, “which would be a low-spec build in a low-rise suburban development, had a sales price of €375,000”.
This would require a deposit of €37,500 and an annual income of at least €96,000. The average income is currently €44,000. This small apartment is even beyond the means of two people both on the average income.
What a Government land agency should be planning to do is to build accessible, affordable secure homes.
These developments should comprise affordable homes (around €250,000 to €275,000) for those who wish to buy and social housing to provide secure affordable rented accommodation for those who do not.
Why is the Government planning not to do that?
If the Government gets its way, no one will be allowed to even ask. – Yours, etc,
JIM O’SULLIVAN,
Rathedmond,
Sligo.