Sir, – I am concerned that journalism around housing in Ireland does not address the significant ecological cost of building houses. Justine McCarthy writes that “€13 billion would fund the construction of 32,700 three-bedroom houses” (“Apple tax: Ireland owes its lost people €13bn worth of houses,” Opinion, September 13th).
Ireland is facing two major crises – housing and ecological. Constructing three-bedroom houses helps tackle the housing crisis but it carries a significant ecological cost that needs to be acknowledged.
Think about how many plants, animals, fungi, insects and trees have their homes destroyed due to housing estates.
I believe that the conversation must turn towards apartment living. How can we build our cities up rather than out? How can we change our attitude to apartment living and normalise raising families in apartments?
Bellringing for 65 years: ‘It’s great exercise but now that I’m 90 I only ring the lighter ones’
Eli Hewson of Inhaler: ‘There’s so much nepotism in every facet of life’
Mark O’Connell: The giant machine for plagiarism is now complaining that it has been plagiarised. Oh, the irony
A year on from having a stroke, Feargal Logan’s life has changed but he counts himself very lucky
How can we build better, more liveable apartment blocks?
Irish nature is in a critical condition. Fixing the housing crisis with more housing estates will further shrink the habitats of wild animals and species so let’s start incorporating nature into the housing conversation. – Yours, etc,
KEZIA WRIGHT,
Salthill,
Galway.
