Around 3,000 new homes could be developed on State lands at Cathal Brugha barracks in Rathmines and the Dublin Bus Depot at Broadstone, according to the Green Party.

Party Leader Eamon Ryan TD said the housing crisis in Ireland is continuing to spiral out of control and said the proposal for the government to use State lands is already being used in Austria, the Netherlands and Denmark.

He said: "The Government must abandon their approach of tinkering with the market in the hopes of addressing this crisis, and take an active role in providing homes for people. We're proposing that the Government uses State lands, such as the land banks at Cathal Brugha Barracks and Broadstone Garage to develop 3,000 high quality, affordable, secure rental homes. Austria, the Netherlands, and Denmark all use the cost rental model to deliver thousands of homes every year – there is absolutely no reason why our Government can’t do the same."

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Green Party Deputy Leader Catherine Martin TD said: "This proposal is affordable, achievable, and deliverable. There are over 100,000 families on the housing waiting list, across the country. In other countries, cost rental is desirable, high quality accommodation. There is mixed tenure – it’s not just for those on the housing list. We want to see that replicated here. The Government must up its game, and tackle the housing crisis head-on. Social Justice Ireland, the National Economic and Social Council (NESC) and the Nevin Economic Research Institute (NERI) all recommend Cost Rental as a means to address this crisis."

(CD)