Issues with housing lie with central government
By Mary Dennehy
ATTENDEES at a housing conference last week entered the event believing that South Dublin County Council was doing little to address the housing needs within the county.
However, The Echo has been told that by the end of the conference people were shocked to learn just how much the council is trying to do, but how these efforts are being hampered by central government.
A housing conference was last week staged in the Louis Fitzgerald Hotel by the South Dublin County Public Participation Net-work (SDCPPN), which represents communities at a local government level and has two members sitting on the council’s housing Strategic Policy Committee (SPC).
The day-long conference had a number of guest speakers who spoke about the issue of housing both at a local and national level, alongside the difficulties councils face in delivering viable housing options when attempting to implement National Housing Policy.
Sam Dunne, co-ordinator of the SDCPPN, told The Echo: “The conference really highlighted that issues around the housing crisis is not down to local authorities, it lies with central government.
“So many people came into the conference thinking that South Dublin County Council is not doing a lot when it comes to housing.
“However, they were shocked to learn just how much the council is doing, but that unfortunately it is bound by central government’s Rebuilding Ireland programme.
“The issue with housing is not lying locally, it’s a central Government issue.”
The Echo has previously reported on housing developments in the county that, shovel ready, have been stalled as the local authority awaited approval and funding at a government level.
Some of the groups present on the day, who are active members of the SDCPPN, included the Clondalkin Traveller’s Development Project, the Lucan Disability Action Group, Tallaght Community Council, Focus Ireland, Simply Green and more.
Ms Dunne said: “The conference was a response to the housing crisis and also to the fact that the right to a home is not recognised in the Constitution.
“It is also important that all of our members are informed, especially those sitting on council SPCs, so that they can raise issues at a local level – which will hopefully be fed through to Government level.
“We want to facilitate public engagement at policy level and make informed decisions.”
Information and findings from the conference will be collated and used to make evidence-based decisions that impact positively on those living in South Dublin County.
For more on the housing conference or the SDCPPN visit www.sdcppn.ie .
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