This is a post from Old Diesel Blog by @olddiesel who has been blogging regularly since 2013. Originally titled ‘So Skehan gets to keep his job’, Old Diesel clearly didn’t approve the reappointment. Before we continue it’s worth remembering some of Conor Skehan’s best quotes on housing:
“Baby boomers are part of a housing market distortion that’s happening all over the western world. They have this enormous amount of money, they’re very interested in property and they regard property as a particularly cosy thing to dip into,”
“An awful lot of Irish Times readers are owners of a second house, and probably a holiday home as well and they are, unwittingly, part of what is creating a shortage of availability of housing.”
“We unwittingly created a problem by prioritising self-declared homelessness above all other types of housing need, which created a distortion in the waiting list system and may have encouraged people to game the system.”
“If you were a social scientist analysing it, you might find people who had chaotic lives suddenly being displaced by people who had two or three kids and who have found a way of gaming the system. If you were systematic about it, you might find that one or two constituencies were places where that happened more than anywhere else in the country.”
“One of the tragedies of living on an island is that we are people who indulge in insular thinking.”
“Our housing crisis is completely normal. Every country in Europe has equivalent issues in terms of affordability, in terms of homelessness”
“Homelessness is a dreadful thing when it happens to someone, but it is a normal thing, it happens”
The post touches on maladministration in Ireland and how our complacency keeps us from viewing alternatives, I hope you enjoy:
So Conor Skehan has been reselected to continue his role as chairperson of the housing agency – in spite of spouting nonsense about how people “might be gaming the system by presenting homeless to skip the queue”.
Most sensible people will of course be aware that the actual problem is that there are more people then available housing. This means that too many people are left without a home – even if they’ve had no problems that might have caused having no home.
What I’m wondering is if there are people out there that would be better suited to the position of chairperson of the housing Agency. I suspect there is – there has to be – the days of we couldn’t find anyone better have to be over, unless the person you get in is actually excellent.
I would like to suggest some superior to Skehan contenders for the role of chairperson of the housing Agency.
Michael Bennett and Hugh Brennan.
Michael Bennett delivered 3 bed Passive house for 190 k a unit – and via Co op housing with O Cealunn in Ballymun Hugh Brennan delivered A2 BER rated 3 bed for 170 k. While there’s little doubt small land cost contributed to both projects coming in at a very reasonable cost – this also serves to highlight just how big a problem land cost is. In any case – both Michael and Hugh have actual house delivery experience behind them – using cost effective approaches to building excellent homes. One of Hugh’s buyers was quoted as saying her MORTGAGE for her Hugh Brennan delivered home was 600 euro a month. The possibilities are off the scale at such a low level per month.
Erica Fleming
A fearless campaigner – not afraid to openly challenge Fine Gael or Labour. Passionate, with actual experience of being homeless herself, determined, willing to drive through barriers. You just know that anyone who puts a barrier in her way is probably going to lose – painfully. Happily if Erica is demolishing barriers – the people are probably going to win. HANDSOMELY.
Lorcan Sirr
Housing expert and lecturer on said topic – always makes very relevant points. Lorcan is switched on to the BIG issues surrounding housing. Ideal qualities for a chairperson of a housing related portfolio.
Nice shortlist in my opinion
Pic once again by the very talented @EoinKr
“Baby boomers are part of a housing market distortion that’s happening all over the western world. They have this enormous amount of money, they’re very interested in property and they regard property as a particularly cosy thing to dip into,”
“An awful lot of Irish Times readers are owners of a second house, and probably a holiday home as well and they are, unwittingly, part of what is creating a shortage of availability of housing.”
“We unwittingly created a problem by prioritising self-declared homelessness above all other types of housing need, which created a distortion in the waiting list system and may have encouraged people to game the system.”
“If you were a social scientist analysing it, you might find people who had chaotic lives suddenly being displaced by people who had two or three kids and who have found a way of gaming the system. If you were systematic about it, you might find that one or two constituencies were places where that happened more than anywhere else in the country.”
“One of the tragedies of living on an island is that we are people who indulge in insular thinking.”
“Our housing crisis is completely normal. Every country in Europe has equivalent issues in terms of affordability, in terms of homelessness”
“Homelessness is a dreadful thing when it happens to someone, but it is a normal thing, it happens”
The post touches on maladministration in Ireland and how our complacency keeps us from viewing alternatives, I hope you enjoy:
So Conor Skehan has been reselected to continue his role as chairperson of the housing agency – in spite of spouting nonsense about how people “might be gaming the system by presenting homeless to skip the queue”.
Most sensible people will of course be aware that the actual problem is that there are more people then available housing. This means that too many people are left without a home – even if they’ve had no problems that might have caused having no home.
What I’m wondering is if there are people out there that would be better suited to the position of chairperson of the housing Agency. I suspect there is – there has to be – the days of we couldn’t find anyone better have to be over, unless the person you get in is actually excellent.
I would like to suggest some superior to Skehan contenders for the role of chairperson of the housing Agency.
Michael Bennett and Hugh Brennan.
Michael Bennett delivered 3 bed Passive house for 190 k a unit – and via Co op housing with O Cealunn in Ballymun Hugh Brennan delivered A2 BER rated 3 bed for 170 k. While there’s little doubt small land cost contributed to both projects coming in at a very reasonable cost – this also serves to highlight just how big a problem land cost is. In any case – both Michael and Hugh have actual house delivery experience behind them – using cost effective approaches to building excellent homes. One of Hugh’s buyers was quoted as saying her MORTGAGE for her Hugh Brennan delivered home was 600 euro a month. The possibilities are off the scale at such a low level per month.
Erica Fleming
A fearless campaigner – not afraid to openly challenge Fine Gael or Labour. Passionate, with actual experience of being homeless herself, determined, willing to drive through barriers. You just know that anyone who puts a barrier in her way is probably going to lose – painfully. Happily if Erica is demolishing barriers – the people are probably going to win. HANDSOMELY.
Lorcan Sirr
Housing expert and lecturer on said topic – always makes very relevant points. Lorcan is switched on to the BIG issues surrounding housing. Ideal qualities for a chairperson of a housing related portfolio.
Nice shortlist in my opinion
Pic once again by the very talented @EoinKr
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