British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
An entry can be found on request
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
An entry can be found on request
All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved alone, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.
Typeset in Classical Garamond BT 11/15 pt
Cover front and back: Architect: 24H-architecture, Rotterdam; Boris Zeisser and Maartje Lammers.
Copyright images: Boris Zeisser.
Back-cover photo of the author by Mark Nixon,
All royalties from this book will be donated to
Inner City Helping Homeless.
Contents
New Government, Similar Policy
The End of Asset-Based Welfare
House Prices Explode
Ignoring Good Advice
The Housing Bubble Bursts
Social Housing Strategy 2020
The Dáil Housing and Homeless Committee
New Minister, New Department, New Plan
Minister Coveney’s Record – July 2016 to June 2017
Minister Murphy’s Record – June 2017 to December 2018
Conclusion
MOVEMENT THREE
The Return of the State?
Taking a Step Back
A Right to Housing
Why Public Housing is the Answer
Reforming the Private Rental Sector
Regulating the Private Purchase Sector
Building Communities, Not Just Homes
Improving Building Control and Consumer Protection
Planning for the Future
Managing Land for the Common Good
Meeting the Challenge of Climate Change
Ending Housing Inequality
Conclusion
Coda
It’s Time to Raise the Roof
Nye Bevan’s Vision
Hatert Tower
The Promise of the Democratic Programme
Acknowledgements
To Lynn … for everything but mainly for putting up with me.
To Ailbhe, for advice, assistance and patience.
To Iñaki, Maite, Mikel & Irati for poking fun at my procrastination (oh yeah and the great company).
To Izei for the voice message … maitia idatzi dut.
To Cooper, because if I don’t Lynn won’t speak to me.
To Bóthar Buí (Sarah & Kieran) for space to think and inspiration to write (oh yeah and the amazing shrimp).
To Peter O’Connell for good advice and even better contacts.
To Conor, Fiona and all the team at Merrion Press for making the impossible happen.
And to Adrienne in MacCarthy’s bar Castletownbere for the Hewitts Whisky.
To