State properties could cut homelessness

Sir, – There are a number of houses fronting the Dublin Bus garage on Conyngham Road, admittedly in some need of repair. This could be an opportunity for Dublin City Council to take over the buildings, do them up as flats and use them to reduce their housing list. Rent could be divided 75 per cent to 25 per cent between the council and the CIÉ property division.

The real question though is how many residential properties are in the control of the State or its agencies which could be put to use to reduce homelessness? Even if work needs to be done, it is presumably a cheaper and quicker option than starting from scratch? – Yours, etc,

TIM SWEETMAN,

Islandbridge, Dublin 8.