Housing offers being sent out

Housing offers were being sent out and allocations would be made as soon as they come back, Cllr Mary Farrell was told at the Gorey Kilmuckridge Municipal District June meeting.

During the discussion on housing, Cllr Farrell also raised the issue of priorities list and referred to queries from tenants about overcrowding, particularly in two bed homes, asking for consideration of this circumstance.

‘Some people could have been living in cramped conditions for five or six years, like a family of five living in a two bed house. This should be given priority and it seriously needs to be looked at.

‘We have a situation where tenants are making do, but this is not conducive with positive mental health; it’s detrimental,’ she said.

The housing representative said that he agreed with her. ‘The council continue to build and acquire 3-4 bed houses with this in mind and we have a reasonable amount coming on stream, and also trying to acquire some more. The Council are also in need of the two bed houses,’ he said.

The latest Trinity Homes application for 83 residential dwellings, and a single storey community football club clubhouse and all-weather sports pitch and associated site works was discussed.

The plan sets out three-bed semi-detached houses, ground floor apartments and street access off the Carnew road to a number of homes.

Permission is sought for total of 97 dwellings in total, as 14 units were previously granted permission.

Cllr Fionntán O Suillebhann asked how many units would be affordable houses and when they’d come on stream. He said that they were particularly needed for the ‘massive gap’ in that section of the market.

District Manager Michael Drea said that the county council is waiting on the small print here, particularly on the programme of the incoming government in relation to affordable homes over the next four and a half years.