€11.6 million approved for social housing in Tralee

IN a visit to Kerry earlier this month, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar announced plans for the development of 56 social housing units to be built at Lohercannon, Tralee. Project plans were received by Kerry County Council in April 2015 and it’s now expected that works will commence before the end of 2017 as efforts intensify to increase the supply of badly needed housing units in the town. The proposed area of development is located near the Ashgrove estate on the road leading to Blennerville from the Knockmoyle side of Tralee. The cost of providing the units is said to be €11.6m. The development comes as a welcome boost as social housing, and housing units in general, are in high demand at the moment. The Taoiseach said the announcement was part of the government’s plans to ‘unlock’ supply across the country which is key to overcoming the challenges faced in trying to deliver social housing. Taoiseach Varadkar added that the project would also help the local authority to tackle the waiting list for housing in Kerry in a substantial way. LANDS at Cordal, Castleisland were successfully auctioned at the River Island Hotel on Thursday, September 14. The property comprised of some 45 acres of mixed quality lands and attracted plenty of interest during the sales period.

Bidding on the property commenced at €250,000 and moved in bids of five thousand to €300,000. After a brief recess the property was placed on the market and was sold at €322,000.

With three active bidders, the property was purchased by a local solicitor on behalf of a client. Auctioneer Brian O’Leary, who conducted the auction, said afterwards:

“Interest in agricultural land has increased significantly in the recent past after a period of two years of being in the doldrums,” said Brian.

“The rise in milk prices have had a considerable impact on the value and interest in agricultural land and it looks positive into the near future,” he added.