Housing Agency chief: decision makers do not understand crisis

Chief executive John O’Connor says he has been recommending cost rental solutions to the government ‘for quite a number of years’

John O’Connor, chief executive of the Housing Agency, says Dublin is heading for a ‘tenement situation’ Picture: Fergal Phillips

The chief executive of the Housing Agency has said key decision-makers’ understanding of the crisis in the rental sector is “probably two decades out of date”.

John O’Connor told The Sunday Business Post that rapid and radical approaches to bringing affordable rental solutions to market were needed urgently, adding that he had been “frustrated” by the lack of progress.

“There’s a lack of understanding. In general society and with decision-makers, understanding of housing ...