High demand for one/two bed social housing units in Kilkenny

Eight out of ten approved housing applicants are seeking either one or two bedroom housing units in Kilkenny, it has been revealed.

This figure was relayed to the elected members of Kilkenny County Council at the latest Housing Capital Update.

The percentage of approved housing applicants seeking one bedroom accommodation now stands at 44%, with 36% seeking two bedroom accommodation.

There is then a substantial drop off to those seeking three bed (16%) and four bed (4%) accommodation.

182 social housing units were delivered across the county in 2023, surpassing the local authority’s original target of 154.

This year, the local authority have set a target to deliver 158 new social housing units, but and are projected to deliver 177.

Despite hitting these targets, elected members raised some concern about various aspects of housing delivery.

Cllr Eugene McGuinness said that there are people on the one and two bed waiting list ‘for up to and over ten years’ and queried if anything could be done ‘to improve these numbers’.

Also raised was the ongoing issues with water infrastructure across the county that is preventing new housing units, both social and private, being built.

Cllr Patrick O’Neill stated that the housing list in Bennettsbridge is ‘growing’ but water infrastructure delays are preventing housing delivery.

Similar concerns were raised by Cllr Eamon Aylward in relation to Mullinavat.

“We haven’t had a new house built in the village for nearly thirty years,” he said.

Also raised at the Housing Capital Update was the huge expression of interest in the new affordable purchase scheme at Nyne Park in Kilkenny City.

The scheme makes homes available at a reduced price for eligible applicants who are seeking to purchase a newly built home but need additional funds to bridge the gap between their mortgage and deposit to cover the full price of the home.

It was noted that some of those enquiring about the scheme were of the impression that the local authority were to be the underwriters of the mortgage for those properties but this is not the case.

Applicants must obtain a mortgage offer from a mortgage provider before being able to avail of the benefits of the affordable purchase scheme.