The Housing Commission pointed out much that is blindingly obvious. Graphic: Getty As part of the Programme for Government and Housing for All plan, the Government committed to establishing a Housing Commission. The commission’s report was leaked last week, and as a consequence was then officially published in full.
The leak and publication were seized on by critics as evidence that the Government’s housing policies were failing; this in turn was rejected by the Government, which said 65 of the 83 recommendations are already implemented, under way or partially under way. So far, so predictable. For too long, housing has been a political football kicked between the Government and the opposition.
Last week’s shenanigans were more of the same. What is needed is a plan that has the support of the Oireachtas — like Sláintecare had on healthcare — to resolve what has been the greatest social catastrophe in this country over the past 10 to 15 years. But there is little or no chance of that with local and European elections in the offing, followed by a general election.
Housing looks set to remain a political football — even as another generation faces into a crisis being tackled in piecemeal fashion. We don’t need a Housing Commission to tell us that, but the report was useful all the same in pointing out much that is blindingly obvious. If you want to know how obvious, read the analysis by Theo McDonald in this newspaper today on a new study of young people in I.