Circulation: Area of Clip: Page 1 of 1
Irish Times-Budget* Wednesday, 15 October 2014 Page: 14
Measures on housing to benefit Dublin
Housing crisis at its worst in the capital, where waiting list has risen to 20,000
the city’s housing waiting list as landlords are currently removing their properties from DublinCorrespondent the rental accommodation Housing measures announced scheme (RAS)in Dublin city at by Michael Noonan three times the rate that they and Brendan Howlin in their are offering them for social budget speeches yesterday housing use. Ninety more landlords will have the greatest impact had given the council notice in the capital, where the housing that they want to quit the crisis is at its worst. scheme by April this year. Last week, it emerged that Only six homes have become Dublin City Council’s housing available to Dublin City waiting list had risen to almost Council this year under the 20,000 applicants, up 3,000 scheme, which was set up in on last year. 2004 to offset the lack of social In the private sector, house housing construction. Under prices and rents in the city are the scheme, local authorities increasing at a greater rate draw up contracts with than anywhere in the State, landlords to provide housing corresponding to a lack of supplyfor people who have been on in the market. the waiting list for more than Capital investment of more 18months, and pay rent directly than €2.2 billion for more to the landlord on behalf of than 10,000 social homes over the tenant. the next three years will allow The extension of the home local authorities and housing renovation scheme to rental bodies to build new homes, properties could bring currently but also to buy or lease existing uninhabitable properties housing. to the market in Dublin. Mr Noonan said he expected Limited impact the savings realised by landlords The ability to acquire existing would be reflected in housing would have the most rent levels. Whether or not immediate impact on the housingthat materialises remains to crisis, but its effect in the be seen. capital will be limited, according Residents of older and historic to Simon Brooke, head of houses in Dublin will finally policy at Cluid Housing, one of benefit from the Living the largest voluntary housing Cities initiative. The measure, bodies in the State. which enables residents of “We are delighted at the trebling pre-1915buildings to claim tax in capital funding for socialrelief at a rate of 10 per cent a housing, but it is not an instant year over a 10-year period for solution. If construction the cost of refurbishment starts tomorrow, it would take works, was launched in Waterford two years for that house to be and Limerick 2012and extended completed, and there aren’t to Dublin in the last really any houses in Dublin budget. There will be “a full available to buy for social housing.” roll-out of the initiative in early 2015”, Mr Noonan said. An additional 3,000 households There aren’t will be housed by local / really any authorities through the leasing •• of houses in 2015, Mr Howlinhouses in Dublin said. However, this is also unlikely available to buy to make much of a dent in for social housing
Dublin
OLIVIA KELLY
82059 18000mm²