Cllr Derek Nolan

The Labour Party has pledged its support for the redevelopment of the Taibhearc at its current location on Middle Street. A delegation from the Irish language theatre addressed the Corporate Policy Group of Galway City Council on Monday.

Speaking at the meeting, Labour Cllr Derek Nolan said that his party fully supported the restoration plans.

“The Taibhearc is the National Irish language theatre but has a cultural history entwined with Galway city for over 80 years. It is a focal point for the Irish language and has showcased and nurtured some of Ireland and Galway’s best know playwrights. The Taibhearc redevelopment simply must go ahead.”

Acknowledging the financial constraints on the City Council, Cllr Nolan said that Labour would work with other parties to find the necessary funds in this year’s Council budget.

“This project is far too important to falter because of financing. We will look at every combination of figures to secure the necessary funds. I don’t agree with putting a price on everything and believe this project to be worthy in its own right. It must be remembered however that the Irish language is worth some €136 million to Galway annually. The venue itself will further support and develop our cultural industries. In Labour’s view, the cultural and economic case is clear.”

Labour councillor Derek Nolan has a tabled a motion to this year’s Labour conference calling for a change in government housing strategy. The motion calls for the government to stop social housing money ending up in developers’ pockets, and will be debated by conference in NUI Galway on Saturday.

Cllr Nolan said, “I am particularly concerned that money is being diverted away from schemes that provide for the purchase of residential properties in favour of leasing empty housing stock from developers and builders under the Social Housing Leasing Initiative.

Since this scheme was announced last year, I have raised my serious concerns about it on an ongoing basis. Nationally, the Labour Party has referred the scheme to the Comptroller and Auditor General who has indicated that an in-depth investigation is warranted.

I don’t believe that any real consideration has been given by the Government to the relative merits of leasing over purchase. Nationally, some €20 million was set aside in 2009 to lease properties on a 10 or 20 year basis, with substantial sums to be allocated in future years also, but house prices have dropped considerably recently, so it would make much more sense to buy the houses as a long term asset.

I am also concerned that the only fund that seems to be enjoying an increased allocation is the Rental Accommodation Scheme, a fund that provides support for people renting in the private sector from landlords, developers and builders. There is no doubt that there is an acute need for supports like this, but the scheme should never be more than a stop-gap measure, and has no place in any long-term strategy to tackle housing needs.

My motion to conference will call for these funds to be diverted towards the purchase of assets that the state will enjoy for years to come, not wasting money propping up builders and developers.”

Text of Motion:

Conference, concerned about the deteriorating social housing crisis in Ireland, condemns the government’s landlord-centric approach to housing provision and calls for the following:

• The diversion of funding from the Rental Accommodation Scheme towards a housing building programme.
• The elimination of the long term leasing programme in favour of a housing purchase scheme, and
• The provision of long term financing to local authorities to transfer unsold affordable housing stock to social housing stock.

Proposing Branch : Galway City East Branch