Land prices hinder council’s bid to tackle housing crisis

FACED with an approved waiting list of 370 qualified applicants for housing, Killarney Town Council is finalising the purchase of 16 acres of building land in two separate areas of the town.

This was disclosed by town clerk Michael O’Leary at the council’s annual budget meeting, amid expressions of serious concern about the housing situation.

Independent councillor Donal Grady said as well as the 370 people on the list, a further 60 people were awaiting investigation.

“The list is growing. The last time I queried the situation I was told there 300 on the list,” he said.

“’We need to be providing more affordable housing. This is the only way many people will ever got on the housing ladder.”

The council has been outbid on several occasions by private developers at auctions for land in Killarney.

Land prices continue to escalate and four prime half-acre sites recently put on the market by Killarney Race Company are each expected to fetch around €500,000.

Meanwhile, the town council has plans to build 60 houses at Dereen, with construction due to start in mid-2006.

The council has also set aside €60,000 to block book 10 beds for homeless people in the Railway Hostel, Killarney.

The council has a budget of almost €12.5m for 2006 and rates will be €66.12, a 4.5% increase on this year.

Councillor Michael Gleeson said business people paying rates were beginning to “’feel the pinch” and were finding it difficult to make ends meet.

“If rates go too high, businesses will suffer and, if businesses suffer, the council is going to suffer,” he added.

Mr Gleeson called for a reform of the system of funding local government. “We’ve very limited sources of revenue under the present system and are at the mercy of the central exchequer.”

Early in the new year, the council will start work on a new toilet block and jarvey store, costing €540,000, at Kenmare Place.

The council has also set aside €30,000 for a trial town bus service over a three-month period.