Plea to designate homes as 'affordable' at new development in Limerick village

COUNCIL bosses have rejected a plea to designate some houses in a local authority development at Patrickswell as ‘affordable’ so people who otherwise wouldn’t qualify for a mortgage can avail of one.

At this month’s metropolitan district meeting, Fine Gael’s Dan McSweeney said some of a development of 24 homes at Barnakyle in the village should have the designation.

Affordable homes in Ireland are ones delivered by the local authority or the State and sold at a reduced price compared to the open market.

They are designed for people who wouldn’t quality for social housing, and who don’t earn enough to get a mortgage.

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The homes, which will be in a mix of two, three and four bedrooms, are set to be made available to people wishing to downsize.

As well as this, some will be allocated to tenants renting privately who have some or all or their rent paid from public money through the Housing Assistance Payment or Rental Allowance Scheme.

Crucially, however, none will be made available for affordable purchase, according to council’s senior housing officer Sarah Newell.

In a written reply to a motion from Cllr McSweeney, she stated: “The affordable housing team has carried out an examination to determine if this scheme is viable for some units to be made available for affordable purchase. At this time, the scheme does not meet the eligibility criteria for the affordable housing fund.”

Ms Newell said further development opportunities are being looked at in Patrickswell for affordable homes.

Cllr McSweeney has urged the council’s manager in the metropolitan district Kieran Lehane to re-examine things.

He said: “I’m pleading with the council to go back to he drawing board and make the scheme eligible for some units to be made available under affordable purchase.”