Local Authorities refusal of housing from NAMA is scandalous

1 October 2015

by Cllr Joe Costello

The statement by NAMA today at the Public Accounts Committee that 31 local authorities throughout the country, including the four local authorities in Dublin, refused 4,500 units of accommodation for social housing since 2011 is incredible. 

These were houses and apartments that were partially or fully built.  Now they have been sold to the private sector and are gone forever.  4,500 units could have solved the homeless crisis with something to spare.  In fact, they could have prevented the homeless crisis because they were sold since 2011. 

This is a scandal and local authorities must answer for their failure to address the accommodation shortage given that they are the statutory housing authorities and were offered the resources to provide the housing for those in dire need.

It is high time that the local authorities stepped up to the mark and took the homeless and housing crisis seriously.