NEW legislation aimed at preventing developers
‘side-stepping’ social housing obligations through land swaps has been slammed by a Dublin North West TD.
Previously developers had to set aside 20 per cent of a residential scheme for social or affordable housing but local councils could accept a payment if they didn’t want the units.
The new Urban Regeneration and Housing Bill removes this cash option, but developers now only have to provide 10 per cent of housing to the local authorities.
“It’s good that developers can’t now buy their way out of their obligation but reducing it down to 10 per cent is absolutely mad given the crisis in housing,
? said Deputy Dessie Ellis (SF).
Deputy Ellis has also slammed leasing arrangements in the new bill that allow developers to retain ownership of social housing they build. Under the new rules, developers will lease their units to local authorities instead of selling them.
“It’s crazy,
? Deputy Ellis told Northside People.
“In other European countries 20 and 30 per cent goes to social housing. We’re reducing down to ten per cent and it doesn’t make any sense. It’s really a builders’ charter.
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Figures published earlier this month revealed that a staggering 42,000 people, including over 16,000 children, are waiting to be housed by Dublin City Council.
The waiting list is made up of 21,592 applicants, and 1,368 of those have been on the list for more than a decade. Deputy Ellis says Government plans have
“completely failed
? to tackle the problem.
“Over the past four years only a small number of homes have been built by the council due to severe cuts to funding under this government,
? he said.
“The council will only build an additional 167 homes before 2018 despite the unprecedented need in the city. They are simply not being funded to provide housing by the Fine Gael/Labour coalition.
“Rents have gone up in the city by over 34 per cent since this Government took office and the number of places available for rent is at an all-time low.
“We need to invest in building homes to tackle this need – the private market cannot and will not meet this demand for affordable homes.
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