Dublin City Council seeks creative solutions to housing crisis

Lord Mayor Christy Burke: told members he had met people outside the chamber on the street preparing to sleep in the porches. Photograph: Eric Luke

During a debate on housing at the monthly meeting yesterday, officials said there were measures that can be taken in addition to direct State funding of social housing.

The officials were responding to Lord Mayor Christy Burke, who is a volunteer with night-time services for the homeless and who called for action rather than words .

He told members he had earlier met people outside the chamber on the street preparing to sleep in the porches. I just cant handle that much more; I really cant, he said.

Green Party councillor Ciarn Cuffe said the council should audit its own resources in terms of sites and land and see how these could be developed to ease the problem.

The councils housing manager Dick Brady said there were sources of finance which were willing to invest in housing.

Mr Brady said while he was anxious to move ahead with his invitation to property professionals and builders, he had been told that standing orders required he bring his plan to the next housing strategic policy committee, scheduled for next month.

Under the timetable, if the strategic policy committee approve Mr Bradys plan, the proposal could get formal approval in November, the Lord Mayor said.

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Dublin City Council seeks creative solutions to housing crisis