Clúid Housing Association will celebrate the official opening of their new housing development called Cathair na gCapall in Portarlington, Co Laois on Friday 4th September.

Clúid is using this opportunity to call on the government to use the proposed National Asset Management Agency (NAMA) to house those in social housing need.

These challenging times present an opportunity to provide housing for those in need

Clúid urge the government to undertake a strategic acquisition programme to acquire units or sites for current social housing use and sites for the purpose of land-banking for future social housing development.

There are an estimated 80,000 vacant housing units in the hands of private developers around the country some of which could be used to house some of the 56,000 people on housing lists, a number which is steadily increasing.

Many of the vacant properties are in areas of great housing need; the government should undertake an assessment of these vacant properties to ascertain their suitability for social housing.

Clúid believes that social housing is the platform for social progress – an affordable, secure home is the foundation on which individuals and families can build their careers, their personal networks and enjoy full participation in society.

In the last 15 years Clúid has built over 3,200 homes across Ireland. All of Clúid’s housing is developed in partnership with the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government.

Our rents are affordable and are within the means of all tenants.

Without government funding the 3,200 plus Clúid tenants could still be on the local authorities’ waiting lists, living in overcrowded family homes or unsuitable private rented accommodation.

The government now has an opportunity, through the creation of NAMA, to further support social housing in Ireland so that those in housing need are housed by not-for-profit organisations like Clúid.