Councillor Yore looks to Credit Unions for local authority social housing

INDEPENDENT Councillor Maeve Yore has asked Louth County Council to put proposals for a new initiative to Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy around the building of social housing on land banks.

At the October meeting, Cllr. Yore submitted a motion stating ‘ That Louth County Council write to housing Minister Eoghan Murphy proposing a pilot scheme for Louth between Credit Union Development Association (CUDA)/ O’Cualann Co-operative Housing Association/Louth Co Council to build affordable/social housing on Louth County Council’s land banks and recoup to Louth Co Council the costs of the land incurred.’

Councillor Yore told the meeting that O’Cualann Co- Operative Housing have a proven track record in building fully integrated sustainable communities at affordable prices and CUDA have been in negotiations with Government over last four years to utilise and offer credit union monies to local authorities for cheaper and more affordable solutions on housing.

She added that it was ‘way past time’ that Housing Minister Murphy acts on solutions like the above motion offered and desists from trying to blame the Local Authorities for the current housing crisis.

Councillor Yore added that Louth has ‘ lead the way nationally on CPO’s’ saying that the motion gives Louth the opportunity to lead the way nationally on housing solutions.’

There was wide support for the motion, with Cllr. Mark Dearey saying it was a ‘ terrific motion.’

Cllr. Oliver Tully also welcomed the motion, adding ‘people are still afraid to borrow because of job insecurity.’

He said that it should be stressed this motion did not involve individuals applying for mortgages from credit unions.

Speaking after the meeting Cllr. Yore ‘welcomed cross party and non party support’ for her county motion on a pilot scheme for Louth, which she said was a solution to social and affordable housing problems.