Scrapping of Housing Executive another attack on universal welfare

national | housing | press release Thursday January 10, 2013 14:20 by RNU PRO - Republican Network for Unity

http://www.republicannetwork.ie/index.php?option=com_co...-news

Scrapping of Housing Executive, another attack on Universal Welfare!

Thursday, 10 January 2013 13:32
The Republican Network for Unity urge all republicans, socialists and indeed all progressive thinking people to resist the abolition of the Housing Executive.

This decision by the DUP’s Nelson McCausland will usher in an influx of privateers into the housing market and will inevitably lead to a rise in rents and a drop in housing standards and availability.

The Housing Executive came about as a direct result of poor housing and a policy of sectarian allocation by local councils. The new housing associations will be run by private companies and their criteria for allocating housing are unclear, presumably profit is their main aim.

The fact that the Stormont government is implementing this Tory conceived policy is a further erosion of the notion of universal welfare and the concept of the welfare state itself.

The policies of both states in Ireland represent an attack on the entire working class, attacks on benefits, health, education and now housing continue unabated. RNU call for grass roots working class unity across the community and across the island.

Diversions from these attacks in the form of sectarian flag waving must be resisted and the gombeenism that has spiraled out of control in the 26 counties must be reversed.

RNU will play our part in the creation of a new Ireland where universal welfare in the key function of the state and not a way of making money by privateers.