On the agrifood export increases, how much of that is simply inflation of food prices? I think in November, eurozone food price inflation was YoY 18%, so a stagnant export volume would see an 18% increase when weighted by price.
On the housing point, I don’t understand how Jim thinks that the government don’t get that housing is the biggest issue facing the country. It’s one thing to believe that it’s all their fault and they’re crap at solving it, but I struggle with the idea that they are oblivious to the problem or they’re in cahoots to make it worse. Dare I say, I think that kind of narrative is a bit Una Mullally.
I agree with comments around the planning system needing reform. Also I think some of the new regulations are regulation for regulation’s sake, tipping the balance too far having being burnt during the Celtic tiger.
Sinn Fein throwing the money at housing. Domestic supply stays the same, demand goes up from increased government spending, so construction prices go up. Surely that’s not a good idea.
Where is the political plan for increasing the supply of construction resources? Nobody has one from what I can see!
Why doesn’t the government drum up some economies of scale and go into partnership with developers? Develop a standardised and simplified design of houses and apartments and put out to tender for the supply of the standardised parts a materials. Pass those economies of scale benefits on to the developer so long as they commit to a fixed profit margin, passing the benefit on to the customer. Cut the VAT for this type of home also. Have apprenticeships which specialise in the specifics of these types of houses, treating the work more procedurally and training up quicker. Sponsor visas for those apprentice schemes. Get some mass production on the go!
Yes, any action that just add to housing demand will just have a price effect. Complex problems are not amenable to simple solutions. Increasing supply requires making sure all the construction workers are available and trained. There is a structural problem with costs if supply already - it is too expensive to build a house. Tackle those costs first. Etc etc
Your suggestion about partnership is a good one. But we have demonised developers!
Una Mullally? Wow, that is quite the insult. . In my view Government policy in relation to housing is all over the place; no strategic vision; developers still treated with disdain; taxation of new housing way too high; no effort to address planning and NIMBYism. I could go on, but if Government afforded the same level of urgency to housing as it did to Covid, some progress could be made.
But you do seem to share with her a belief in a conspiracy theory that the government is actually engineering (or is at least happy to do nothing about) the housing crisis. And why is that you reckon? Is it to help “developer friends” of theirs? Help them in spite of housing being the one issue eroding their voter base and threatening their own political careers? That’s the usual narrative you hear from the likes of Una.
I would put it to you that it’s far more likely that they do wish to solve the housing crisis but they’re just crap at it. Rather than being evil.
I’m not sure treating with COVID style urgency will solve the housing crisis on its own either. The reason being that this issue is perpetual whereas COVID goes away. You cannot operate long term in a state of emergency, throwing the kitchen sink at one issue to the detriment of all else.
I said clearly that i believed that SF has a vested interested in preventing a solution. I did not suggest for one moment that Gov has a vested interest, rather that it does not devote the attention it deserves and it is not good at providing solutions. The Dept of Housing is not fit for purpose and Gov lacks bottle/competence to take the hard decisions that are necessary. Funny enough, i do realise that Covid is a short-term issue that will go away, but a long-term sense of urgency/crisis management is absolutely required to solve what is the biggest short and long term challenge facing Ireland from an economic, social and political perspective. I utterly reject the Una Mullally comparison, but i obviously need to work on my communications skills if that is how sensible people like you interpret what i am saying.
No problem. All good fun. We appreciate all of your feedback, but i couldn't let that comparison go. That would be even worse than comparing me to Fintan. Thanks.
Oh - what’s the story with homes of people who are (a) in nursing homes and (b) recently deceased?? Why can’t they be rented on short-term leases (11 months) while awaiting decisions relating to probate or the “fair play scheme”!!
The bureaucracy around these matters is mind boggling. I heard recently that council rented homes by default will rip the kitchen out and refit it for all new tenants (it’s hearsay so I could be wrong). Apparently it’s for insurance reasons as they cannot trust an old kitchen even if it’s very new and modern. Common sense cannot prevail no matter how good a condition the existing kitchen is in - no assessment gets made.
Funny you should say that, Sean - I only heard an example of this from an acquaintance who said the neighborhood gained an amazing kitchen from the skips!!
The only thing I can come up with is that it is really ‘too difficult’. Personal property is protected by law, including, I think, the Constitution. The government is probably being advised that there would be multiple law suits if the simply seized the empty homes, even if they compensated the owners.
Hi Lads. Great podcast again.
On the agrifood export increases, how much of that is simply inflation of food prices? I think in November, eurozone food price inflation was YoY 18%, so a stagnant export volume would see an 18% increase when weighted by price.
On the housing point, I don’t understand how Jim thinks that the government don’t get that housing is the biggest issue facing the country. It’s one thing to believe that it’s all their fault and they’re crap at solving it, but I struggle with the idea that they are oblivious to the problem or they’re in cahoots to make it worse. Dare I say, I think that kind of narrative is a bit Una Mullally.
I agree with comments around the planning system needing reform. Also I think some of the new regulations are regulation for regulation’s sake, tipping the balance too far having being burnt during the Celtic tiger.
Sinn Fein throwing the money at housing. Domestic supply stays the same, demand goes up from increased government spending, so construction prices go up. Surely that’s not a good idea.
Where is the political plan for increasing the supply of construction resources? Nobody has one from what I can see!
Why doesn’t the government drum up some economies of scale and go into partnership with developers? Develop a standardised and simplified design of houses and apartments and put out to tender for the supply of the standardised parts a materials. Pass those economies of scale benefits on to the developer so long as they commit to a fixed profit margin, passing the benefit on to the customer. Cut the VAT for this type of home also. Have apprenticeships which specialise in the specifics of these types of houses, treating the work more procedurally and training up quicker. Sponsor visas for those apprentice schemes. Get some mass production on the go!
Yes, any action that just add to housing demand will just have a price effect. Complex problems are not amenable to simple solutions. Increasing supply requires making sure all the construction workers are available and trained. There is a structural problem with costs if supply already - it is too expensive to build a house. Tackle those costs first. Etc etc
Your suggestion about partnership is a good one. But we have demonised developers!
Una Mullally? Wow, that is quite the insult. . In my view Government policy in relation to housing is all over the place; no strategic vision; developers still treated with disdain; taxation of new housing way too high; no effort to address planning and NIMBYism. I could go on, but if Government afforded the same level of urgency to housing as it did to Covid, some progress could be made.
I knew that would get a reaction! :-)
But you do seem to share with her a belief in a conspiracy theory that the government is actually engineering (or is at least happy to do nothing about) the housing crisis. And why is that you reckon? Is it to help “developer friends” of theirs? Help them in spite of housing being the one issue eroding their voter base and threatening their own political careers? That’s the usual narrative you hear from the likes of Una.
I would put it to you that it’s far more likely that they do wish to solve the housing crisis but they’re just crap at it. Rather than being evil.
I’m not sure treating with COVID style urgency will solve the housing crisis on its own either. The reason being that this issue is perpetual whereas COVID goes away. You cannot operate long term in a state of emergency, throwing the kitchen sink at one issue to the detriment of all else.
I said clearly that i believed that SF has a vested interested in preventing a solution. I did not suggest for one moment that Gov has a vested interest, rather that it does not devote the attention it deserves and it is not good at providing solutions. The Dept of Housing is not fit for purpose and Gov lacks bottle/competence to take the hard decisions that are necessary. Funny enough, i do realise that Covid is a short-term issue that will go away, but a long-term sense of urgency/crisis management is absolutely required to solve what is the biggest short and long term challenge facing Ireland from an economic, social and political perspective. I utterly reject the Una Mullally comparison, but i obviously need to work on my communications skills if that is how sensible people like you interpret what i am saying.
The Una Mullally comparison was over the top. I take it back and apologise.
No problem. All good fun. We appreciate all of your feedback, but i couldn't let that comparison go. That would be even worse than comparing me to Fintan. Thanks.
Oh - what’s the story with homes of people who are (a) in nursing homes and (b) recently deceased?? Why can’t they be rented on short-term leases (11 months) while awaiting decisions relating to probate or the “fair play scheme”!!
The bureaucracy around these matters is mind boggling. I heard recently that council rented homes by default will rip the kitchen out and refit it for all new tenants (it’s hearsay so I could be wrong). Apparently it’s for insurance reasons as they cannot trust an old kitchen even if it’s very new and modern. Common sense cannot prevail no matter how good a condition the existing kitchen is in - no assessment gets made.
Funny you should say that, Sean - I only heard an example of this from an acquaintance who said the neighborhood gained an amazing kitchen from the skips!!
Another great podcast
Re housing - why is the Gov not creating new laws that facilitate the rehabilitation of empty housing into habitable homes?
There are apparently 66,000+ empty homes in Rep of Ireland - even if a third could be converted to homes - that’s 22,000!!!!
The only thing I can come up with is that it is really ‘too difficult’. Personal property is protected by law, including, I think, the Constitution. The government is probably being advised that there would be multiple law suits if the simply seized the empty homes, even if they compensated the owners.