Government’s measures on rent

Sir, – Further to Fr Peter McVerry's "Rent measures are lacking and late – but welcome" (Opinion & Analysis, November 18th), the Government has been constantly alerted to the present housing crisis and finally has activated measures to deal with the crisis, but it is only a holding action and may contain hidden serious issues that will require further action. The only long-term solution to the housing crisis is returning to social housing built by local authorities, a model which has served us adequately since the 1950s. The latest measures are only designed to kick the problem down the road past the general election. Eventually we will return to direct involvement by the State to supply homes for our citizens as the private sector's interest is simply profit. – Yours, etc,

EAMONN WALSH,

Dublin 12.