Kilkenny County Council exceeds its targets for housing in 2023

Kilkenny County Council has exceeded its targets in 2023 in relation to providing housing capital.

Eimear Cody, senior engineer at Kilkenny County Council made the presentation at a meeting of the Housing Strategic Policy Committee this month.

Ms Cody told the meeting that the local authority had a target of 154 units for 2023 and had surpassed this figure and delivered 184 units. The committee heard that some of the schemes were delivered by the local authority and others by approved housing bodies including Clúid, Respond and Good Shepherd Services Ltd.

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Chair of the housing SPC, Cllr Eamon Aylward remarked that it was ‘good to see plenty of units coming on stream of such high quality’.

Ms Cody also outlined to the committee that there are several planned amenities included in some of the schemes including a neighbourhood centre planned for the Western Environs.

“Croker’s Hill has a community centre included because of the scale of it,” she added.

Councillor Martin Brett asked how many people are on the housing list and was told that there are currently 1542 on the list, with a net figure of 743.

This was broken down into 46% seeking one bed units, 35% seeking two bed units, 15% seeking three bed units and 3% looking for four bed units. 53% of those on the housing list are looking for a home in Kilkenny City, with Callan having the second highest level of demand at 9%.

Councillor Eugene McGuinness asked how many one bed units were being built adding that there is ‘a severe shortage’ of this type of housing.

Ms Cody replied that one bed units on being included in new schemes adding that there were several included in the development at Croker’s Hill.

Meanwhile next year also looks to see several projects coming on stream with 174 units planned exceeding the target of 158.
Completed projects this year included 12 units at Blackmill Street in Kilkenny City, eight units at the Creamery Site in Kilmacow, four units at the Village Gardens on the Waterford Road in Kilkenny, 25 units at Legan Grange and Legan Court in Ladywell in Thomastown, six units at the Old Golf Links Road in Kilkenny City and 40 units at Nyne Park on the Callan Road in Kilkenny.