Case study

Department of the Environment and Local Government

Public housing policy - analysis and application - Developing a strategy for social and affordable housing in Ireland

The 1990s saw an unprecedented period of house price increases in most urban centres in Ireland, which, in turn, gave rise to an increasing inability of many people on average incomes to purchase a house. These high house prices generated a number of negative economic and social effects. Responding to these developments, the Minister for Environment and Local Government brought into force the Planning and Development Act (2000). Part V of the Act contained specific measures designed to expand the supply of social and affordable housing.

The Department of the Environment and Local Government commissioned PA Consulting Group to develop a model housing strategy, which would serve as a case example for those local authorities which would be required to produce their own strategies under Part V. The model strategy was developed with the management at Louth County Council, which acted as the pilot site for the initiative.

Following the launch of the model housing strategy, all local (planning) authorities in Ireland were expected to have a housing strategy in place. PA worked with five separate local authorities - Roscommon County Council, Sligo County Council, Tipperary (SR) County Council, Waterford County Council and Westmeath County Council - to help develop appropriate strategies.