Public housing in Ireland, 1880–1921

Abstract

In Ireland, unlike the rest of the British Isles, the first large public housing programmes were in rural areas and associated with major land reforms at the end of the nineteenth century. The Labourers’ Acts from 1883 to 1911 enabled rural local authorities with state subvention to erect by 1921 almost 50 000 new cottages for landless labourers mainly in the south and east of the country. The Congested Districts Board, a central government agency established in 1891 to improve economic and social conditions in the poor western seaboard counties, erected or very substantially improved over 9000 farm dwellings and financed improvements to thousands more. Severe housing problems existed in most Irish cities and towns with little political or legislative response. Dublin, a deposed capital, was probably the worst housed and unhealthiest city in the British Isles and remained so despite the remedial efforts of the Corporation. Belfast, with strong industrial growth, fared better but considerable housing and health problems existed and civic enterprise was belated. Private, philanthropic and voluntary bodies contributed little to working‐class housing in town and country.