Councillors in Clare are receiving hourly calls from people in desperate need of housing.
It comes as the housing crisis dominated much of this month’s meeting of Clare County Council.
Clare County Council will be writing to the Housing Minister, calling for a housing emergency to be declared and a moratorium on evictions to be reintroduced for three months.
It follows the passing of a motion from Sinn Féin Councillor from Shannon Donna McGettigan who is also calling for the Minister to increase the income threshold limits for social housing support.
A similar motion was passed at this week’s meeting of Limerick City and County Council, meaning two counties in the MidWest will be applying pressure to the government.
Councillor McGettigan says the number of calls local representatives field from those on the social housing list alone is extraordinary and testament to the severity of the housing crisis.
Calls were also made for Clare County Council to identify all options that can be pursued to develop sustainable living options in rural parts of the county.
The local authority insist the Town Centre First Programme will offer an opportunity to deliver housing projects in rural towns and villages in new ways.
Details of a new scheme whereby a €30,000 grant will be given to those who choose to buy vacant homes are due to be revealed by the Taoiseach and Housing Minister on Thursday.
Lisdoonvarna Fine Gael Councillor Joe Garrihy, would like to see the option of retirement villages in rural Clare explored to free up one-off housing out the county.
Listen back to the full interview here:
