Two-thirds of Irish people believe housing should be made more affordable, even if it requires increased taxes, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The data was published as the Irish Congress of Trade Unions urged workers to sign its petition, which calls for a legal right to housing.

The OECD’s cross-national ‘Risks That Matter’ survey found that 41% of Irish people felt more affordable housing was necessary for them to feel more economically secure. It also revealed that Irish people were concerned about the cost of health care and their financial stability in old age.

Fórsa has been campaigning for action on the housing crisis, particularly through the ‘Raise the Roof’ campaign, which is calling for a local authority house-building programme, greater security for tenants, and a constitutional right to housing. The union is urging members in the Galway area to join a lunchtime protest next Monday (8th April).

The OECD survey asked 22,000 people in 21 countries about risks relating to social and economic issues, and how they felt their governments were doing addressing those risks.

A factsheet on Ireland’s ‘Risk that Matter’ survey findings is available here.