Councillor "disappointed" at lack of choice based letting properties in Ardee
Sinn Féin councillor Pearse McGeough said those on waiting lists are having their health impacted
Sinn Féin councillor for Ardee Pearse McGeough has called for increased supply of properties available for choice-based-letting in Ardee.
Speaking at the February meeting of Ardee Municipal District, Cllr McGeough said he was "still disappointed at the lack of properties" on choice-based-letting for Ardee.
Choice-based-letting allows approved social housing applicants to view and bid on properties.
Cllr McGeough said people on the waiting lists are having their "health and wellbeing impacted".
"So we need to get our act together in terms of property in Ardee," he said.
Declan Grimes, from Louth County Council's housing section said there will be an increase in the number of properties that will be available through choice-based-letting in 2026.
He said Louth County Council has agreed to six units in Potters Field, as well as eight units in Bridgegate in Ardee, which will be delivered in the "next couple of weeks".
He also said a scheme in Louth Village with 58 units is set to be delivered this summer. 60% of those units will go up on choice-based-letting, he said.
Cllr McGeough also praised the work of Louth County Council on Connolly's Field housing development on the Avenue Road in Dundalk.
He described the site as "state of the art", and said constituents who have been housed there "can't believe their luck" .
Mr Grimes said Louth County Council is "very happy" with the development, and said there have been 70 over-55s and age-friendly units.
Elsewhere, responding to a question from Independent councillor Bernie Conlon, Mr Grimes confirmed Louth County Council has received nearly 400 applications for the Vacant Property Refurbishment grant.
The grant can be used to renovate derelict and vacant properties that have not been used as residential properties before. Property owners have 13 months to complete the works.
Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.