Senator calls for 'pandemic style' emergency to deal with housing crisis

Senator Aidan Davitt has urged the Government to treat the country's housing crisis as an emergency situation and implement similar legislation to what was used during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“During the Covid crisis it worked extremely well - developers and builders were asked to roll out mortuaries and additions to hospitals. There was a plethora of different building works at that stage. Work started in a matter of weeks. At this stage this should be treated as a crisis and treated in the same way that we treated the Covid crisis,” commented Senator Aidan Davitt.

The Land Development Agency (LDA) has identified various sites for development, including sites adjacent to existing social housing areas. Senator Davitt believes the planning process has slowed down the progress of building new homes, and said that emergency legislation is needed to speed up the process.

"If we use the model used during Covid, we will have quicker and better wins," said Senator Davitt. "The tie-up with the planning process is to the detriment of 90% of goodwill in relation to building at present."