The Government has been urged to address the imbalance in the housing system where construction in the private sector has soared as demand for social rented accommodation is at its "highest level since the formation of the State".
Delegates attending the opening of the National Conference on Social Housing in Sligo last night heard that the supply of rental units for low-income families must be speeded up dramatically if the 73,000 housing units recommended by the National Economic and Social Council (NESC) are to be provided by the deadline of 2012.
"While Ireland has one of the highest completion rates for new private housing in the EU at 17 new homes per 1,000 people, it has ironically one of the lowest level of completions for social housing at less than two new homes per 1,000," explained Donal McManus, executive of the Irish Council for Social Housing (ICSH) which is hosting the three day conference.
He warned that unless supply improved, vulnerable, low-income families would be "left to fend for themselves in the private landlord sector".
Mr McManus pointed out that just 107,000 of the 300,000 housing units built by local authorities since the 1930s were still available for rent, the remainder having been bought out by former tenants.
More than 17,000 social rented units have been provided by non-profit housing associations, which means there is a shortfall of 73,000 units given the NESC estimate that 200,000 will be required by 2012.
With at least 50,000 households on housing waiting lists, Mr McManus pointed out that a much larger stock of social rented housing was needed. The recent surge in the population and the rise in the number of immigrants mean that demand is set to increase further.
Mr McManus said that while most of the focus in recent years had been on promoting discounted "affordable" housing schemes for marginal homeowners it was time now for the Government to address the current imbalance in the housing system and focus on putting increased resources into the provision of social rented housing.
With 6,000 social rental units provided every year, the ICSH has estimated that up to 9,000 should be supplied annually if the targets are to be met.
It pointed out that families who are being driven into the private rented sector are competing with high-income families and students.
While rent allowances were available, restrictions on these might discourage some people from seeking employment, Mr McManus said.
Freek Spinnewijn, director of FEANTSA, the European federation of national organisations working with the homeless, told the conference that home ownership was not a panacea for a successful housing system.
