Kerry councillor ‘at a loss’ after finding no affordable housing developed in a year

By Alastair Tibbs, The Kerryman

A Kerry councillor says he is “at a loss” after it was found that Kerry County Council has developed no affordable housing in the past year.

Councillor Niall Kelleher decried the lack of affordable housing in the county and said those in Kerry are the “biggest losers”.

The government’s affordable housing scheme allows local authorities to put newly built homes on the market at a reduced price for first time buyers and other eligible prospective homeowners.

The scheme requires local authorities to own an equity share in the home equal to the difference between its open market value and the reduce price paid by the purchaser.

Cllr Kelleher said: “I just am at a loss why 12 months later we’ve nothing to show on the affordable housing scheme.”

“I’m just lost, all meanwhile our constituents here in Kerry are the biggest losers.”

He said there was an increasing number of people in the county who had incomes above the threshold for social housing but were unable to afford a home.

To qualify for social housing in Kerry, a single person must have an annual income below €35,000, while the rate increases all the way up to €42,000 for a household of three adults and four children.

Cllr Kelleher said the Minister for Housing, James Browne was “baffled” that some local authorities, including Kerry, don’t have an affordable housing scheme.

Cllr Kelleher said there was a significant amount of large-scale residential developments currently in the planning and asked if there had been pre-planning discussions for affordable housing.

The council said they were working “actively” throughout the county and three sites were under serious consideration for addressing housing needs.