CLARE County Council is to seek funding for affordable housing in the urban areas of the county, the October meeting of the local authority heard.
Independent Gerry Flynn put forward a motion asking that the Council make an approach on the matter to housing minister Darragh O’Brien.
In a written response to his motion, Director of Social Development Ann Haugh stated, “As advised by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, proposals located within the CSO settlement boundaries of the five cities (Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway, and Waterford) are eligible for Affordable Housing Fund funding.
“However, proposals located outside the five cities must be located within local authority areas with a minimum average 5% Housing Need Demand Assessment (HNDA) Affordability Constraint for new housing demand over the period 2021 to 2026 calculated for the entire local authority area.
“The HDNA assessment of the Clare local authority area has not demonstrated this required affordability constraint and therefore does not meet the selection criteria allowing applications to be made by Clare County Council under the AHF.
“However, some flexibility has been introduced in those local authority areas which are not deemed to have an affordability challenge at a countywide level with respect to settlements over 10,000 population where local data supports an affordable need.”
Ms Haugh added, “In consideration of the above Clare County Council has already initiated engagement with the DHLGH requesting a review of eligibility initially for Ennis to be followed by Shannon if successful.
“We are hopeful that if these urban centres were assessed individually they would demonstrate the required HNDA Affordability Constraint and so Clare County Council would be in a position to put forward applications for funding.
“This request has been considered by the DHLGH and the Housing Department is currently in the process of acquiring the necessary detailed information for the DHLGH for them to consider the proposal further.”
On a visit to Clare last week, Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien stated, “I’ve approved about 30 affordable purchase schemes right across the country, this is Council led affordable schemes, we’ve seen the first ones in Limerick and Westmeath and I expect Clare shortly.
“A submission is being worked through, it’s with the local authority right now, they’re doing a lot of good work on that.
“As I said today, I want to see those applications in as soon as possible. If we can get them in before Christmas, and the math stacks up, and I expect it to do so; this Government will support the delivery of those affordable housing schemes here in Clare. And they would be significant, both of these schemes. We’re working together, we work really well with Clare County Council I have to say.”
Councillor Flynn said, “I was informed by the housing officials that the housing needs assessment didn’t allow funding in Clare, but now the housing department has initiated contact with the Minister’s department for a scheme under the 10,000+ population for Ennis.
“I am asking also that Shannon with a population that was marginally short of 10,000 in the last census would be included. The town boundary, when it was there under the old Town Commissioners, was extended and we would have had in excess of 10,000 during that period.
“There’s a hell of a lot of people out there that are working hard but have no chance of getting access to a mortgage on an affordable house.”
Fianna Fáil’s Cillian Murphy said that the reality of the housing market for local people in Clare is often not reflected in data, as holiday home buyers distort the real picture.
“They are simply outbid by those who want them for a second home. I have no problem with anybody owning a second home, but I have a real problem when somebody can’t get their first.”
Councillor Joe Killeen said that current policy only helps people in certain areas.
“Unless you’re in one of the cities, Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway or Waterford, if you’re outside of that area, tough luck, you’re on your own.
“It doesn’t make a lot of sense to me that a situation like that would pertain or that the requirement would be so restrictive.”
Owen Ryan has been a journalist with the Clare Champion since 2007, having previously worked with a number of other publications in Limerick, Cork and Galway. His first book will be published in December 2024.