Continuing sustainable communities on Irish islands are at risk due to a critical lack of housing, according to a report published today by Comhdháil Oileáin na hÉireann, the Irish Islands Federation.
The report calls on the Government to establish an island-specific housing task force and action plan.
The report, which is due to be released at 1300 hours today in the Audio-Visual Room in Leinster House, was carried out in conjunction with Dr Conor Cashman and Dr Siobhan O’Sullivan of the School of Applied Social Studies, University College Cork.
Funded by Comhdháil Oileáin na hÉireann, it sets out the results of research conducted between September and December 2022.
It finds that the islands face “unique challenges within the national housing crisis, and failing to address housing on the offshore islands means that the continuity of sustainable communities on the islands is at risk”, the federation says. T
Key points from the report’s survey include:
- Full-time residents and communities want to remain living and thriving on the islands, and there is a clear cohort of people wishing to return to, or move to the islands for the first time.
- Availability and affordability of housing are the most significant issues identified by survey respondents wishing to remain on, or move to, the islands.
- 79% of renter respondents stated they are likely to move in the next 5 years. Although most want to remain living on the offshore islands, they said the lack of affordable housing to buy, lack of long-term rental accommodation and tenure insecurity make that very challenging.
- There is very strong support for developing schemes and a range of housing options to enable younger generations and full-time residents to remain on, or move to, the islands.
The report has five recommendations, including establishing an island-specific housing task force and action plan.
It also recommends developing a community-led housing association/approved housing body, and ensuring that the voices of islanders are heard in relation to policy development and implementation, with particular focus on planning and vacant homes.
Máire Uí Mhaoláin, CEO of Comhar na nOileán, says the report “provides clear data highlighting the urgent need to address housing on the islands”.
The report’s publication represents “a key step in addressing these needs and advocating for the needs and wishes of islanders to sustain our communities and way of life on Ireland’s offshore islands”, she says.