Letter to the editor: Councils lack tools to build out of Housing Crisis
The Editor,
Letters Page,
The Irish Times.
Dear Editor,
What is it about The Irish Times that it regularly published academic opinions on Local Government issues, publishes well meaning Editorials about the need for reform and yet day in day out excludes the voice of the practitioners at Local Government level from the narrative? The latest example is the article from Dr Anthony Leddin ( 31st August ) suggesting the establishment of a new National or Regional Housing Authority.
Is Dr Leddin or The Irish Times not aware of the fact that it is only since responsibility for housing has been transferred to the National that our crisis has grown. An incomprehensive decision making process, a pattern of destruction of Local Government powers, huge withdrawal of funding in good times and austerity years and an ideological opposition to social and affordable home provision have been the hallmarks of National Housing Policy in recent years.
As I have said so often before the Departments of Housing, Planning and Local Government and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform are key obstacles to Social and Affordable Housing in this Country. Giving either of them even more control would be a recipe for further chaos and condemn those on the Housing list to decades more of inactivity. Perhaps The Irish Times should broaden its base of acceptable commentators.
Yours sincerely,
Yours sincerely,
Councillor Dermot Lace
