This pandemic has made us fully realise the importance of a safe and secure home, and the referendum on a right to housing will enshrine this into our law. The commitment to deliver a referendum on the right to housing was secured in the programme for government and is very much Green Party policy. The proposal for a referendum has been advocated by many housing and homelessness organisations.
I asked the Minister when he will deliver on the referendum considering the commitment made in the Programme for Government, what role the Commission on Housing will have, and organisations such as the Home for Good Coalition, who have worked enormously on the referendum proposal, will be engaged and part of delivering this commitment.
There’s no doubt COVID has had an enormous impact on the construction sector and thus housing delivery, however we need to know the Minister’s plan to make up for lost time. Last year an estimated 18,800 homes were built though currently our housing demand requires around 30,000 new homes to be built each year for a number of years, as projected by the Economic Social Research Institute (ESRI)
I asked the Minister what the targets are for new homes by the end of 2021, and in particular, public and affordable housing? In the case that future restrictions might further impede construction, I asked the Minister how will he ensure that this target will be met?
You can read the full debate and response here