A chara, - The present Government's housing policies benefit speculators, investors and private landlords and are creating more social division throughout the Dublin region.
Tax incentives, including the "Section 23" scheme, encourage companies and affluent professionals to invest in the new apartment developments, creating high-rental flatlands. Dublin Corporation sold off most of its own potential housing sites for development and now has 5,000 applicants waiting up to three years on its housing lists. This is forcing people to seek private rental accommodation.
The Eastern Health Board now spends £40 million annually on rent subsidy to private tenants, which is another hand-out of taxpayers' money to landlords and investors.
We do not need more surveys, reports or master plans. Only a proper social housing policy and a balance of private, public and cooperative housing will benefit those remaining old-established communities in the inner city.-Is Mise, Tom Crilly,
The Workers' Party, Dublin South East.