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 ,