79 new homes in Athy, Co Kildare cancelled 'at the eleventh hour'

Labour’s TD for Kildare South, Deputy Mark Wall has slammed the Minister for Housing James Browne for halting a 486-home development planned across Kildare, Dublin, Wicklow, and Sligo.

The project, which was set to deliver homes under a Public Private Partnership, was only weeks away from breaking ground despite €8 million already spent.

Labour is demanding the immediate reversal of the decision.

Deputy Wall said: “It is beyond belief that with our housing crisis as severe as ever, the Minister would shut down this project at the eleventh hour. In Athy, we were due to see 79 new homes built — planning permission secured, a contractor in place, jobs ready to go. 

“Serious questions must be asked of Minister Browne about how this decision was made. People need to know how a fully planned, shovel-ready development can be scrapped overnight. We have seen too much foot-dragging on housing already — this is just the latest in a line of bad calls leaving people stuck in overcrowded rentals, couch-surfing, or moving back in with family because the Government can’t get new homes built on time. 

“I’m calling on Minister James Browne to reverse this short-sighted decision without delay and guarantee that the 486 homes — and the many local jobs attached to them — will go ahead as planned. We cannot afford any more political excuses while families wait for homes that could and should have been delivered already.”

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