Housing management in Ireland: Transition and change

Increased competition in the provision of public sector housing, stock privatization and attempts to introduce more tenant centred and effective housing management services are trends seen in social housing throughout the Europe Union in recent years (HARLOE, 1994). These trends are mirrored in Irish government policy which has been committed to changing the nature and culture of housing management policies and practices (REDMOND, 1994). This has involved forcing local authorities to take on broader strategic and enabling functions and to promoting diversification and competition in the provision of public housing through, for example, the funding of housing associations (DEPARTMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENT (DOE), 1991). However, privatization through sales to sitting tenants is a long standing policy theme extending back to the 1920s. In the future, local authorities will be expected to provide value for money (VFM), competitive services, customer oriented services and pluralism in provision (DOE, 1993a). In combination, the measures are likely to have a significant impact on housing policy in Ireland.