Higgins suggests using abandoned estates as emigrants holiday homes

Irish President Michael D Higgins has proposed to utilize ghost estates as holiday homes for emigrants who have fallen on hard times overseas.
During yesterday’s visit to west London at GAA grounds, Mr Higgins said the idea of making use of the empty estates around the nation was a worthy consideration.

Initially, the proposal came up during last week’s interview with a local newspaper where the President said using the estates to house emigrants under the poverty line could permit them to return home for certain periods of time. He said yesterday that many Irish emigrants who were receiving social services in Britain wanted to go back to Ireland for a short period to re-connect with the country.

Mr Higgins said that any accommodation which was not being utilized, or was facing demolition, could in certain cases be viable for housing returning expats. Some people wish to return to a place that offers them a supportive network and adequate social services, he added.

The idea could be advanced with a consultation with the appropriate departments – most likely the housing departments and county associations in the UK, said Mr Higgins. There is a real problem at home, including housing estates which are unfinished or near finished, said the President.

He added that there was a need to put any available resources into any possible solution that may improve the lives of Irish people, reports the Irish Post.