Just 25 affordable homes approved in Limerick so far
ONLY 25 affordable homes have been approved for development in Limerick so far, new figures show.
Information given to councillor Dan McSweeney at this month's metropolitan district meeting also revealed that the council sought approval to hire 10 people to work on delivering these projects.
But government only green-lit four of these posts.
And the first affordable home to be complete in Limerick is now expected to happen until mid-way through next year.
"It's completely unacceptable," said the Fine Gael member.
Introduced under the government's Housing for All programme, the affordable purchase scheme helps people on low to moderate incomes buy homes at reduced prices. New homes under this scheme are located in areas with the greatest housing need and where affordability is an issue.
"It is now over 12 months since Housing for All was introduced and to say I am frustrated with the pace of delivery of affordable housing would be an understatement," added Cllr McSweeney, "When we look around the country, we see that other local authorities have keys in affordable housing doors. We see affordable houses already delivered or being delivered by year end include Cork, Westmeath, Waterford and Wicklow."
He pointed out there are more staff delivering cycle lanes, through the Active Travel directorate, than in affordable housing.
Cllr Sarah Kiely seconded her party colleague's motion to write to the Taoiseach and Local Government Minister to highlight the need for more resources - and urge him to take on more staff to deliver affordable homes.
She said: "We are all in support of Active Travel, but the resource issue is the elephant in the room when it comes to affordable housing. There are so many people living with parents trying to raise kids in crowded conditions, trying to buy their first home. There is obviously a massive supply issue here. This can only be addressed by more supply. To have 25 units complete by 2023 is not acceptable at all."
Cllr McSweeney questioned how other local authorities have been able to deliver affordable homes at greater speed.
Housing director Sarah Newell pointed out that Waterford and Cork councils had more planning permissions in place on land which was to be developed for social housing.
Once affordable housing legislation came in during 2021, they were ready to move, she added.
She acknowledged Limerick City and County Council has a "staff issue," and said once this is resolved, delivery will be ramped up.
Cllr McSweeney asked if any social housing developments planned can be flipped to become affordable homes, with metropolitan leader Cllr Olivia O'Sullivan suggesting the project at Condell Road.
Ms Newell said she cannot comment on this, because the scheme is under construction, and had a social housing contract on it.