Louth councillor seeks action on scarcity of four bed homes

161 people in Dundalk have been approved onto the Local Authority Housing List for a four bed house but just ten are projected to be delivered over the coming years, councillors learned at the Louth County Council October meeting.

Cllr Joanna Byrne had tabled a question for the October meeting, asking the housing team to outline, by municipal district, how many people are approved onto the Local Authority Housing List for a four bedroom house, and what projected delivery there is for four bedroom properties in each district over the coming years.

Replying to Cllr Byrne, Director of Services, Social Development, Ger Murphy, said that in Dundalk 161 people have been approved, with Department approval for the delivery of ten units; in Drogheda 78 have been approved, with Department approval for nine units; and in Ardee 26 people have been approved, but no units have as of yet ben approved for delivery.

Acknowledging the work that has been done to date in the delivery of social housing in the county, Cllr Byrne asked what further plans there was to increase the number of four bed units in the county.

Mr Murphy told the meeting that the majority of the local authority's housing applications are for three bed units, but added that they were working actively with Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) and on acquisitions for four bed units.

He said that four bed units make up just 5% of the local authority's housing needs, with one to three bed units comprising its biggest need, but added that the acquisition of four bed units is something they are actively working on.