The Green Party has promised to
provide 10,000 social housing units per year over the life-time of
the next government. Speaking at the launch of its 'future homes'
policy document the Party called for greater investment in the
provision of housing for people on lower incomes. The Party also
said that it wished to introduce a 'golden share' housing scheme if
it formed part of the next government.
Speaking at a press conference in Dublin today Green Party
Housing spokesperson Ciarán Cuffe TD said he will change the
ways Irish houses are planned and built. Deputy Cuffe said: "We will
end the culture of development-led planning, which has left many
communities without the basic amenities of schools, hospitals and
access to public transport. We will ensure that building regulations
replicate best practise across Europe and are enforced via a
thorough system of inspections. And within five years we want to
improve the energy efficiency of new homes by 60 per cent. This is
absolutely vital if we are to meet our climate change commitments.
"The government has failed to meet its own targets
as set out under the previous National Development Plan. What is now
needed is concerted effort to boost output and improve standards. In
Dún Laoghaire housing lists have trebled in the last ten years and
no affordable homes have provided since the affordable homes
initiative commenced in 2005. We aim to reverse that trend and bring
much greater numbers of affordable units on stream. We would also
reinstate the full provisions of Part V of the Planning and
Development Act.
"The 'golden share' scheme will allow for funds
raised by the selling of the state's interest in housing to be
reinvested in future housing stock. Previously such revenues went
back into a central fund. We believe that this scheme will help
ensure that sufficient funding is provided in future years."
Green Party Energy and Transport spokesperson
Eamon Ryan TD said: "The worst legacy of
this Government is the urban sprawl they have permitted in the
counties surrounding our major cities. This is trapping people and
especially parents with young children into commuting patterns which
are simply unsustainable. We are proposing the introduction of a new
national Transport and Land use Authority which will ensure that new
housing is built in the right location, close to public transport
routes. The Housing Authority we are proposing today will then work
with local councils to insure that the detailed design of new
developments includes proper access to green space, play areas,
shops and schools."
Green Party candidate for Dublin North-East Cllr
David Healy said: "The Greens in local
government are already making a real difference to improve our
housing stock. In my own county of Fingal and in Dun Laoghaire and
Wicklow we have changed the planning regulations so that new
developments with ten units or more have to be built to an energy
efficient level which is 40 per cent above national standards.
Within the first year in Government we want such high standards to
become the norm and by the end of a five year term we plan that all
new buildings will be 60 per cent more energy efficient. We will
also provide a new grant scheme to promote the proper insulation of
existing homes."
CiaranCuffe.com,
or Text Ciaran on 087 265 2075.