Killarney needs one-bed homes but new affordable housing scheme won’t cater for demand

By Alastair Tibbs, The Kerryman

One-bed houses are not being considered for Kerry’s new affordable housing pilot scheme despite a claimed decade-long wait for homes on the county’s social housing list.

A Killarney Municipal District (MD) meeting heard the county’s new scheme only considering offers from developers catering for two to three bed houses, with a maximum development size of 20 units.

Killarney MD’s social housing waiting lists have seen a reduction in three-bed and four-bed applications, but one-bed figures remain steady, with over half the current applications pertaining to one bed houses.

Kerry’s new affordable housing scheme has so far received six submissions, with three in Killarney town, two in Tralee and one ineligible submission outside these urban settlements.

At a recent council meeting, Killarney councillors heard the scheme, still in pilot phase, would not provide any solution to the district’s one-bed shortage.

“We have made huge inroads, we just can’t seem to get a handle on one-beds,” Councillor Brendan Cronin said of the social housing list.

“They’re eight, nine or 10 years on the housing list and there’s no sign of anything coming. There has to be a change of focus.”

Councillor Niall Kelleher echoed Cllr Cronin’s remarks, adding he felt one and two-bed housing were being ‘forgotten about’.

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.

Kerry County Council said the county’s initiative was in its pilot phase, citing difficulties that other councils had faced in selling the houses after they were built, and may in future cater for one-beds.

However, Councillor John O’Donoghue argued that the housing shortage in Killarney was so acute, there would be no such difficulties in the town.

“You could put them up online the night before and sell them all in the morning,” said Cllr O’Donoghue.

“There are people living at home with their parents because they’re saving to get on the property ladder,” added Cllr Cronin.

Councillors expressed concerns that the developer applications might be too restrictive and asked for further detail on the criteria.

However, council officers warned they had to be ‘careful’ as the application process was live and said the councillors would receive any further updates on the process in advance of any affordable housing scheme being advertised to the public.