The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
‘We need to build ten times faster’
FIGURES BRASSIL OBTAINED UNDER FOI SHOW JUST 30 HOMES BUILT SINCE ‘15
JUST 30 new social houses have been started by Kerry County Council since 2015 amid a housing list that’s currently riding at 4,338, figures obtained by Fianna Fáil Kerry TD John Brassil obtained under a freedom of information (FOI) request.
The figures confirm the massive pressure that Kerry County Council is now under when it comes to providing permanent homes with 4,338 ‘qualified clients’ awaiting housing.
But at the current rate of delivery (30 homes over two years) it would take nearly 290 years to build homes for all in need.
“We’re nowhere near meeting the targets currently set down by the Government and that’s not something I’m blaming Kerry County Council for of course. The responsibility is with the department to sanction it and let the Council build,” Fianna Fáil TD John Brassil said.
“In order for the Council to even get a handle on it they would want to be building in the region of 200 homes a year, over the next ten years. The population is growing and unless we upscale the housing programme significantly now we’re just going to be looking at the list growing and growing,” Deputy Brassil said.
He is now appealing to people who own houses in towns and villages to avail of a new ‘repair and lease’ scheme that will see the council financing repairs in exchange for a guaranteed long-term lease arrangement.
“It’s a phenomenal scheme with great potential for providing social accommodation and I would strongly encourage people to avail of it.”
He is meanwhile still seeking figures for emergency homeless accommodation the Council informed him it was unable to provide.