Government urged to double social and cost-rental housing stock

National housing charity Threshold said it identifies the need for Ireland to double its current social and cost-rental housing stock if the country is to bring a permanent end to the housing crisis.

The call came as they held their conference titled ‘Changing Our Housing System’, held at the Richmond Education and Event Centre in Dublin.

It was launched by Minister for Housing, Darragh O’Brien. Other attendees and speakers included Dr. Richard Waldron, Senior Lecturer at the School of Natural and Built Environment, Queen’s University Belfast; political representatives from Fianna Fáil, Green Party, Sinn Féin, People Before Profit, Social Democrats, and the Labour Party.

Ann-Marie O’Reilly, Threshold’s national advocacy manager, said that, given Ireland’s housing system is not meeting everyone’s needs, other models need to be considered. In particular, she highlighted the unitary housing system – currently a feature in several other European countries:

“Insecurity…