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Social Housing in Ireland Social Housing Providers Local authorities in Ireland are the main provider of housing for people who need housing and cannot afford to buy their own homes. Complementary to this however, a voluntary housing sector has emerged which provides housing for low-income families and for vulnerable people with special needs. The breakdown of social housing sector in Ireland is: - Local Authorities : 87% - Voluntary / Co-operative Housing: 13%
Evolution of Social Housing in Ireland Housing in Ireland is characterised by a high level of owner occupation. This has been a gradual process throughout the Twentieth Century, by contrast in 1922 owner occupation figured at less than 10%. Social housing represented only 10% of the Housing Sector in 2000, and Private housing 81%. However, this trend is somewhat reversing at present due to the recent escalation in house prices that may have had the effect of making home ownership less and less attainable for many. Between 1995 and 2002, the prices of Previously Owned Houses have increase of more than 150%. The trend is the same for New Houses prices which have increase of more than 100%. The overall effect is that the rate of increase is unsustainable for those on moderate incomes. The numbers of people on waiting lists for social housing has risen of 24% between 1999 and 2002, accordingly as many people cannot access secure, affordable rental accommodation.
Source: Department of Environment and Local Government Publications Annual Housing Statistics There is clearly a need to continue to increase annual social housing new build programmes in order to reach a level where social rented housing can meet this sustained demand. Despite a period in which housing has been 'prioritised' by Government (see “Recent Developments in social Housing in Ireland” below), less than 5,000 households have been removed from the housing waiting listings between 2002 and 2005 (43,684 families in housing need in 2005). Who need social housing?
Recent Developments in Social Housing in Ireland
It called for a stronger role for the voluntary and co-operative movement in the provision of social housing. The Capital Loan and Rental Subsidy Scheme was introduced in the Plan, which would provide funding to the voluntary housing sector for the provision of family type housing. The introduction of the scheme was gradually taken up by the voluntary sector although the local authorities remained the central providers in the development of social housing.
the Government called for further expansion of the local authority housing programme through an increase in social housing output to 7000 new builds annually. Although between 1995 and 1997 there was no increase in capital funding limits to housing associations despite huge increases in building costs.
For the first time ever, housing was included in the National Development Plan (2000 -2006) with £6billion earmarked for social and affordable housing - most of this to be spent on infrastructure, housing output and improvements to existing stock.
Planning authorities now have the power to require that up to 20% of land approved for residential developments can be set aside for social and affordable housing by the planning authority or a nominated body - such as a voluntary housing body.
Around 60 000 Irish households are estimated to live in persistent fuel poverty and a further 160 000 or so experience intermittent fuel poverty. Fuel poverty has been defined as the inability to heat ones home to an adequate (i.e. safe and comfortable) level owing to low household income and poor, energy inefficient housing and also the need to spend greater than 10% of household income on fuel to achieve an acceptable level of comfort and amenity. Core delivery is through the Warmer Homes Scheme, which aims to improve the energy efficiency and comfort conditions of homes occupied by low-income households, and to establish the systems and growing the capacity in Ireland to install such measures. Social Housing Issues
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The sole responsibility for the content of this document lies with the authors. It does not represent the opinion of the European Communities. The European Commission is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information contained therein.
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