The ICSH and AHB sector is actively working with the Government and local authorities to progress the targets under Rebuilding Ireland, which commits €6billion to support the delivery of 50,000 new social homes by end 2021.
In particular, we will continue to work with the Government to increase the provision and the professional management of homes affordable to people on low incomes. We are concerned that the private sector is failing to respond to housing demand, leading to a cumulative growth in demand for homes particularly for people on lower incomes. The private sector has failed to develop affordable housing to rent or purchase and, in our view, cannot be relied upon to provide a significant response to social and affordable housing need. The ICSH believe that the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness relies too heavily on the private market for an increase in social housing supports (through HAP) and that much greater supports for delivering affordable housing are required than are envisaged in the Plan.
It is the view of the ICSH that, in order to avoid the boom-and-bust cycles that have characterised the Irish housing system, Government must ensure that 20% of overall housing stock is in permanent social housing over a medium-term timeframe. The Irish Council for Social Housing (ICSH) is asking that Budget 2020 should be centrally focussed on improving access to affordable, good quality, secure accommodation for all households.
