North Clare natives are reportedly being priced out of the housing market by new arrivals to the area.
A new study has found that more than 30% of people who’ve moved to Ennistymon or Lahinch in the past five years cite housing affordability as their primary motivation.
The International Centre for Local and Regional Development’s new ‘Investigating Planning, Place-Making and Commuting’ report examines how commuting from rural Ireland affects the various aspects of people’s lives.
The survey was conducted through engagement online with 980 people and interviews with a further 144, with participants residing in seven towns across Ireland including the complimentary settlements of Ennistymon and Lahinch.
Remote working has been found to still be prevalent with 38% who worked remotely during the pandemic continuing to do so now, while 17% do it most or all of the time.
Of those who commute to work, almost half, or 45%, travel a distance of 30 kilometres or more, while 47% have one-way journeys lasting more than 45 minutes.
Dr Brendan O’Keeffe, who led on the Ennistymon-Lahinch case study says this highlights the need for improved public transport in the north of the county.
According to the findings of the report, just 12% of commuters from the towns surveyed use public transport as their means of getting to work.
Director of Service for Economic Development with Clare County Council, Sean Lenihan claims strides are being made in this area.
The report also states that one in four have moved to the town they reside in within the previous five years with almost 31% citing housing affordability as a pull factor.
Ben Bennett of Ben’s Surf Clinic, Surf School and Surf Shop and Lahinch says this is making finding a home more difficult for those native to the region.
You can listen to the full interview here:
