Isn’t it ironic that there are houses and apartments lying empty around the country, yet there are more than 90,000 people on waiting lists for social housing? Or is the problem more complicated than that?
This question will be asked at a conference organised by the Respond! housing organisation today and tomorrow. The conference, at the Maldron hotel in Tallaght, will call for a comprehensive national housing plan that would address the needs of people on waiting lists.
The conference, entitled Does Ireland need a National Housing Plan? Of course it does! is particularly relevant in light of the number of ghost estates that might or might not be suitable for social housing.
Topics will include social housing regeneration, community empowerment through education, and mental-health concerns on social-housing estates.
Speakers include broadcaster Joe Duffy, Prof Tony Fahey of UCD, a specialist in social policy who will address family dynamics, housing, poverty, the spatial aspects of disadvantage and of policy responses to disadvantage.
Other speakers will include Ned Brennan of Respond!; Prof Loretta Lees of King’s College London; Fr Peter McVerry; and Fr Seán Healy of Social Justice Ireland.
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