Need for more social housing

THE social housing problem was at the centre of discussions when the Draft Local Economic and Community Plan 2016-2021 was brought up at the recent meeting.

Councillor John Hegarty referred to the section of the report which said that there are 7,441 vacant homes in the county and said that these could be used to help to solve the housing crisis. Cllr Deirdre Wadding echoed his views, saying that it ‘makes no sense not to have them operational’.

‘I’m not point the finger at the housing authorities. I’m pointing the finger at central government and the bureaucracy that stops us from getting on with it.’ ‘We should step in.’ Councillor Mary Farrell also chimed in on the social housing debate saying that they need to acknowledge that they have an issue in Wexford.

‘We can shout forever but unless we hold our hand up and admit what is going on, we will still be here next year.’

However, for Councillor Paddy Kavanagh, the LECP is about more than housing. He said that the new plan should be ‘a bible for every councillor’.

‘It’s not just housing. This is a bigger plan and housing is only one aspect of a bigger picture.’

Councillor Kathleen Codd Nolan said that the plan highlighted ‘ the good, the bad and the ugly’ in Wexford while fellow Enniscorthy councillor Johnny Mythen honed in on the need for youth employment in the county. Meanwhile, Michael Sheehan said that they aren’t getting the foreign direct investment that they need in Wexford, adding that it needs to be encouraged.

The adoption of the plan was proposed by Cllr Michael Sheehan and seconded by Cllr Kathleen Codd Nolan.