24th August 2003

PRESS RELEASE

GREEN PARTY CALLS FOR SITE VALUE TAX TO TACKLE SPIRALLING HOUSING PRICES

As housing prices continue to rise the Green Party has accused the Progressive Democrats of failing to tackle the housing crisis.

The Green Party's representative on the All Party Committee on the Constitution,  Ciarán Cuffe TD has accused the Government of pandering to developers' interests rather than addressing the need for more social and affordable housing

"Minister Parlon's views on the housing crisis place him firmly to the right of Genghis Khan" stated Green Party TD Ciarán Cuffe today. "His ideological stance reveals the true colours of the PD's who simply wish to protect the vested interests of property owners rather than provide affordable housing."

The Green Party's submission to the All Party Committee has  called for changes to give more emphasis to the 'common good' in the constitution so that speculative land speculators can be tackled. The Party has also called for a Site Value Tax on land that is zoned for housing but that has not been developed.

"A cartel of land owners are keeping land from the market in Dublin and are keeping housing prices at an artificially high level. The PD's Junior Minister Tom Parlon TD has stated that his Party would not countenance any weakening of fundamental rights to private property. It now seems clear that the PD's have no commitment to addressing the housing crisis apart from lining developers' pockets."

ENDS