“Private developers won’t build affordable homes” – Eoin Ó Broin
By Maurice Garvey
PRIVATE developers do not want to build affordable homes, leaving it up to the State to roll out viable housing schemes, according to Sinn Féin Housing spokesperson Eoin Ó Broin.
Deputy Ó Broin said government schemes to encourage developers to build affordable homes have failed, including the Planning Rebate Scheme, which will only result in “approximately 1,283 affordable homes being delivered”, and the Help-to Buy Scheme “which has in fact pushed house prices up and should be scrapped.”
He also cited the €200 million Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund (LIHAF) which originally meant developers would sell at least 40 per cent of all new homes at least 10 per cent below the market rate.
“This requirement has been watered down and as we speak no agreements have been reached between local authorities and developers on the issue of affordability,” said Deputy Ó Broin.
“Huge global development companies should not be getting taxpayer’s money – they don’t need to build homes that people cannot afford. Private developers have no interest in building affordable homes.
“There is a growing number of people earning between €40,000 and €70,000 a year in need of an affordable home to purchase or rent.”
He continued: “The state can build a social home for an average cost of €191,000. It is Sinn Féin’s view that the State must step in and start funding council-led mixed tenure developments, which includes social and affordable homes for sale and rent.
“If council homes can be built for €191,000, they can be sold for between €200,000 and €210,000.”
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