ABSTRACT
In 1946, Ireland’s housing conditions were a serious scandal. Only one in six dwellings had all the basic amenities. One in five families were still intensely overcrowded and the vast majority lived at more than one person per room. Much of the indifference stemmed from the fact that Ireland’s rural population lived predominantly in the owner-occupied housing, although much of it was traditional and lacking in any modern facilities. The government set up the National Building Agency in 1963 to goad local authorities into building on an expanding scale. The National Building Agency reflected the strong centralising trend of the government at this time. Housing management was a largely clerical function and, as a service to tenants of the rented housing or a requirement of the landlords, was barely recognised. Functions, such as rents, lettings and welfare, were entirely centralised.
