What is social policy
... social housing refers to rental accommodation obtained with state funding, where the provision of dwellings is associated with social need. The provision of social housing is involved with the concept of the provision of a welfare state. In Ireland the supply of social housing and the rates charged are linked with the cost of providing the housing as opposed to the current market trends. In Ireland as contrasting with most other European countries, local authorities provide the bulk of social housing. Local authorities have been responsible for over 330,000 dwellings in Ireland since they came into operation at the turn of the twentieth century. That accounts for over thirty percent of present housing stock in Ireland.( Fahey,T.,1999,3) Local authorities have been criticised in the past. It is claimed that gross inefficiency has taken place within the management which has resulted in a waste of tax proceeds allocated to this sector, also policies such as the encouragement of ‘tenant purchase scheme’ have greatly diminished the housing stock and lead to adverse social connotations regarding local authority housing. Local authorities are not solely responsible for the provision of social housing however. As a result of the above-mentioned criticisms and a shift, which took place across Europe from the ideal of the welfare state, non-profit voluntary organisations, which have played a major role abroad, are beginning to make a significant contribution here. This increasing role was confirmed with the implementation of the department of environments ‘Plan for Social Housing’ (1991). This strategy document reviewed how social housing was delivered and recommended alternative means by which Ireland housing needs could be met. These suggestions included ...