The Irish government's long-awaited housing strategy has been delayed until possibly September. The "Housing for All" plan was widely expected to be published next week after a protracted period of discussion, analysis and political wrangling over its content.
Goodbody Stockbrokers say in a post-COVID world, housing will once again become the key policy issue facing the government. The housing plan will set out the government's strategy for public building, support for homeownership and its spatial strategy in a post-COVID world of WFH and will be successor to Rebuilding Ireland.
Aspects of the plan included a ramp-up in the delivery of public housing, the introduction of a new shared equity ownership scheme for private purchasers and an expansion in the role of the Land Development Agency.
According to Goodbody Stockbrokers, "The Irish Times states that the reason for the delay was a belief that the plan was being “rushed”. If that is the case, then it is probably the correct decision to delay for several weeks; too many times in the past, the government has favoured expediency over substance in relation to housing. However, the delay highlights the sensitivity and importance of housing for the government among the electorate at this point in time."
Source: www.businessworld.ie
