Environment Committee to resume hearings on current housing demand issues

Michael McCarthy TD, Chairman of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht, said: “Tomorrow we will continue our hearings on issues around current housing demand. There has been much commentary recently on housing demand and supply in Ireland with some warning of a housing shortage, particularly in large urban areas, due to the low rate of housing construction since the property and construction crash.  For instance, according to a recent report from the Housing Agency, almost 80,000 housing units will need to be built over the next five years to meet demand from a growing population. Many households remain on the social housing waiting list, while rents are increasing in major urban areas.

We have already met with a number of frontline organisations involved in providing housing and accommodation throughout the country. At our meeting tomorrow we will hear from representatives of the Departments of Environment, Community and Local Government and of Social Protection. It is an opportunity to get the perspectives from these two Government departments on current housing demand issues. Among the matters we hope to address tomorrow are: general housing policy, as well as the delivery of housing and housing services, promoting good practice in housing management and supporting the delivery of well-built, quality housing in well-designed neighbourhoods close to amenities, as well discussing the issue of rent supplement which is paid to people living in private rented accommodation who cannot afford the cost of their accommodation from their own resources.”

This meeting will start in Committee Room 4, Leinster House at 2.15pm tomorrow, Tuesday, 17th June 2014.

Committee proceedings can be followed live here.

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Media enquiries to:

Ciaran Brennan,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Communications Unit,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2

P: +3531 618 3903
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Email: Ciaran.brennan@oireachtas.ie

Membership of the Joint Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht

Deputies: James Bannon TD (Fine Gael); Paudie Coffey TD (Fine Gael); Noel Coonan (Fine Gael) Leas-Chathaoirleach; Marcella Corcoran Kennedy TD (Fine Gael); Barry Cowen (Fianna Fáil); Kevin Humphreys TD (Labour); Michael McCarthy TD (Labour) Cathaoirleach; Sandra McLellan TD (Sinn Féin); Tony Mc Loughlin TD (Fine Gael); Michelle Mulherin TD (Fine Gael); Catherine Murphy TD (Independent); Gerald Nash TD (Labour); Seán Ó Fearghaíl TD;  Brian Stanley TD (Sinn Féin).

Senators: Senator Cáit Keane (Fine Gael) Senator Denis Landy (Labour); An Seanadóir Fiach Mac Conghail (Neamhspleách); Senator Catherine Noone (Fine Gael); An Seanadóir Labhrás Ó Murchú (Fianna Fáil): Senator Ned O’Sullivan (Fianna Fáil).