The Chair of Clare County Council’s housing committee says the local authority will most likely only construct two houses in the county this year.
New figures contained in the Government’s Summary of Social Housing Assessments shows 1,185 households in Clare qualified for social housing support as of November 1st last year.
There was a 7.7% annual increase in the number of people who qualified for social housing in Clare last year, according to the SSHA, with the total number at 1,185 at year end.
Among the findings of the report are a 6% reduction in the number of people waiting for more than seven years, though the numbers waiting two to three years soared by almost a fifth.
One-adult households are still the majority household grouping on the waiting list and this grew by 7%, while those whose need was due to homelessness increased by 18%.
There was a 14% jump in the number living with parents or friends and a 16% drop in the number of applicants who were owner occupiers.
Last year 187 social homes were constructed by the Council across Clare, but the Chair of the local authority’s housing committee says this goes in cycles.
Councillor Gerry Flynn admits that only two houses are likely to be completed this year, but says 138 are due to come on stream in 2024.
The Shannon Independent Councillor has outlined that there were 40 new presentations in January and 60 in February this year and says the solution has to take a number of factors into account.
The Mayor of Clare says the problem is purely down to lack of supply, not just here, but across the country, following little or no building for several years.
Councillor Tony O’Brien says this is exacerbated by infrastructural issues in some areas like Killaloe, where there’s a moratorium on building, as the wastewater treatment is at capacity.
Cathaoirleach O’Brien says more needs to be done to bring new housing stock on stream.
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