The Mayor of Killarney has said an affordable housing scheme is desperately needed for local people who find themselves in the situation where they are over the social housing income threshold but cannot attain a mortgage to meet market prices.
Cllr Maura Healy-Rae stressed that the level of engagement with a recent survey on the matter, conducted by Kerry County Council, was low and did not reflect to real demand for such housing on the ground.
“In addition to not being able to meet the income threshold for social housing, the demand in the private market in Killarney is so high that people are effectively priced out and simply cannot attain a mortgage,” she said.
“Furthermore, if they find a second-hand property, they can’t avail of the Help to Buy scheme as that is for newly built or self-built properties”.
The mayor said the extensive sprawl of areas deemed to be under significant urban influence in the Killarney municipal district, and the ban on use of existing entrances onto national roadways, makes for a very restrictive planning system.
She said all of these factors combined makes it a perfect storm for people who desperately depend on the availability of affordable housing.
Cllr Healy-Rae said she firmly believed housing is one of the key reasons so many people are leaving Ireland as they cannot see a future here.
Council officials said they have been working on the preparation and shaping of an initial business case on affordable housing for submission to the department for access to relevant funding.
If the business case is approved, the council will then look for expressions of interest from contractors to participate in an affordable housing scheme.
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