Clare Fine Gael TD Joe Cooney has called for Community Land Trusts to be given a clear legal footing in Ireland, arguing that the model could help couples and families in coastal areas secure homes at prices linked to local incomes rather than speculative market pressures.
Speaking at the Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Mr Cooney said that coastal communities are facing severe affordability pressures, particularly in Clare.
“In places like Kilkee and Lahinch the pressure on affordable housing is extreme,” he said. “Former two-bedroom council houses are selling for around 350,000 euro and ordinary homes with a sea view are approaching 1 million euro. That is not sustainable for local families or for the long-term viability of these communities.”
Mr Cooney said new approaches are needed to ensure that homes remain affordable for people who live and work in coastal towns and villages. He highlighted the Community Land Trust model, which separates the value of the house from the value of the land and links resale prices to local incomes.
“Community Land Trusts offer a way to keep homes affordable forever,” he said. “To make that possible we need legal clarity.”
Rosie Lynch, Development Officer and Creative Director of Trí Síolta Community Land Trust, told the committee that coastal and island communities are facing what she described as an existential challenge.
“People who grew up in places like Clare can no longer afford to stay,” she said. “A Community Land Trust creates an asset lock that keeps land affordable and prevents speculative increases. Without that protection communities risk losing families, losing workers and even losing schools.”
Commenting on what changes are needed in Irish law to formally separate house value from land ownership, Ms Lynch said the UK’s 2008 Regeneration Act, which introduced a statutory definition of a Community Land Trust, offers a useful model. She noted that groups such as O Cualann, SOA, Common Ground and the emerging Clare Community Land Trust are part of a growing movement but require legislative support to secure long-term affordability.
Mr Cooney said he intends to continue pressing for progress.
“We need solutions that work for real people in real communities,” he said. “Community Land Trusts are a practical way to help couples and families build their lives in the places they call home. The next step is to give this model the legal certainty it needs.”