Affordable Housing must represent a fair option for working people
Labour housing spokesperson Senator Rebecca Moynihan has called on the Government to publish how cost rental costs are arrived at. Following the announcement by Minister O’Brien that three Approved Housing Bodies (AHB) had received approval for the State’s first cost rental scheme, delivering 390 homes, Senator Moynihan has reiterated Labour’s call for Affordable Housing for All.
Senator Moynihan said:
“If we are serious about solving the housing crisis, State intervention is necessary. However, any intervention needs to be evidence based and costed. It’s welcome to see Clúid, Respond and Tuath given approval to deliver cost rental homes for middle income families, but we need to see what evidence the Government used to determine the cost of rent.
“In particular, why does rent of at least 25% below open market value automatically equate with affordability? In the context of one of the most unaffordable housing markets in the world, 25% market discount doesn’t necessarily correspond with cost rental. That’s why we need to see what evidence was used by the Minister.
“The Government needs to think long-term to ensure that this housing will actually represent a fair and low-cost option for working people. The Labour Party is calling on the Minister to push out the loans on these properties to over 40 years to make that a reality.
“The housing problem can be solved, but any attempt to do so must be rooted in evidence and fact. We can build an Ireland where every child grows up in decent housing in a good neighbourhood, but only if we invest in practical policies to deliver solutions like affordable housing that is actually within working families reach.”