A South East Clare Councillor claims the eligibility criteria for affordable housing in Clare is unfairly geared towards people in densely populated areas.
Clare County Council is calling on the housing minister to revise the criteria of eligibility for affordable housing in the county.
Shannon Independent Councillor PJ Ryan put forward a motion on Monday to request that the housing minister “look at the criteria around affordable housing in Co. Clare”.
The motion was tabled in light of Clare County Council’s survey in February which sought expressions of interest for affordable housing in Ennis and Shannon.
The survey was conducted to ascertain interest in the council’s Affordable Housing Scheme, a scheme which has not yet been launched, though it’s been confirmed that approval has been granted for both Ennis and Shannon.
Councillor Ryan says that the eligibility criteria for the scheme should be broadened to cater for Clare people in different areas and on different levels of income.
Councillor Ryan’s motion received unanimous support on Monday with many calling for the scheme to be extended to towns and villages throughout Clare.
Areas outside of Ennis and Shannon do not comply with the requirements for the scheme as set out by the Department of Housing.
Independent Councillor Michael Begley has called these requirements discriminatory and says that affordable housing should be made available in rural as well as densely populated areas.
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