Housing and Enterprise
Creating Cooperative Enterprise Communities
Housing and Enterprise
Where we live is heavily dependent on where we work. It’ s not surprising that areas showing the most economic activity around the country are also the areas under the most pressure in relation to accommodation. Therefore, it’ s logical that when approaching the issue of the housing crisis we should bear in mind the reasons why areas like Leitrim( 29.5 % vacant housing), Waterford, Wexford, Mayo, and Donegal among others have high levels of vacant housing— i. e. the painfully obvious need for employment in these areas.
We have to be courageous and radical if we are to counteract the growing housing crisis and find a solution that will satisfy both the housing and employment needs of the Irish people.
A National Housing Agency( NHA), in conjunction with a National Employment Agency( NEA), will develop a national housing and employment strategy to create sustainable cooperative community enterprises.
It’ s clear that while local authorities do play a role in the development of their communities, they are insufficiently funded and resourced to deal with the crisis locally. We urgently need a cooperative enterprise sector created with a Junior Minister in government. Within that sector, a National Housing Agency( NHA), in conjunction with a National Employment Agency( NEA), will develop a national housing and employment strategy to create sustainable cooperative community enterprises. These community enterprises will house and bring employment to those areas of the country with the highest levels of vacant housing and lowest levels of employment.
A project on this scale will require investment in the order of € 1 billion per year over a five-year period for infrastructure, renovation of vacant housing, construction of new homes, and the creation of renewable energy sources and public utilities( anchor institutions) such as hospitals, schools, libraries, universities,