Laois County Council smashing its target of social housing
Over 1,000 extra rental homes on way across five years
Housing supply is still at crisis stage in Laois, but double the number of new social homes has been delivered to fill the gap.
The Government's Housing for All plan set Laois a target to deliver a total of 534 new social rental homes, between 2022 and 2026.
Laois County Council has now given figures to show it has already hit and passed that target, just halfway through the five year plan. In 2023 alone, they had a target of 79 homes, but delivered 286.
If Laois continues apace, it will have over 1,100 new social homes completed by 2026. However that will still not clear the current waiting list of nearly 1,600.
Simon Walton Deputy CEO emphasised their success at the May council meeting.
"You can see we are not even halfway through, and 539 social housing units have been delivered. There are 24 delivered to date this year. There are 279 more under construction throughout Laois. Upwards of 160 will be delivered in 2024.
"A further 320 are in the planning or design stage. This will ensure a follow-on in the progress made to date," Mr Walton said.
The first 24 he spoke of completed in 2024 are 18 in Clonroosk Abbey in Portlaoise, owned by Clúid Housing.
Six are in Church Avenue in Stradbally, built directly by Laois County Council, with tenants moving in in June.
Of the 279 more social houses under construction across Laois in 2024, 145 are being built by housing bodies, who will continue to own the properties permanently, leasing them to the council who select the tenants.
Another 102 are 'turnkey' purchases by the council, built by private developers. There are 46 more being built directly by the council. The final 10 are Part V homes, which forces developers to hand over a portion of new developments for social use.
The waiting list for a council house or apartment in Laois is still long however, as more people were accepted in recent times when the income limit jumped to €35,000 for a couple.
There are 1,593 individuals or families who qualified for a social home in Laois and awaiting their keys. Over 44% of them are in HAP supported private accommodation.