Warning on social housing shortage

ONLY 26 local authority houses were completed in Waterford city last year, even though more than 2,000 people are currently on housing waiting lists.

A local councillor has also warned that the number of social and affordable houses earmarked for the city in 2005 will have little impact on the housing waiting list.

As part of its spending plans for 2005, Waterford City Council has indicated its intention to commence work on a number of local authority housing projects. It is anticipated that around 245 houses may be completed by the end of 2005.

However, Sinn Féin Councillor David Cullinane expressed disappointment at the slow rate of progress with the construction of affordable housing and stressed that 2,132 people are currently on housing waiting lists.

“While all housing developments are to be welcomed this number - 245 - will go nowhere near eating into the housing waiting list which currently stands at 2,132 applicants,” he said.

He noted that only 26 local authority houses were completed in the city last year and called for more funding from central government to ensure more houses could be built.

“Only 26 local authority houses were completed in this city in 2004. This proves that central government is not providing adequate resources for this council to build the amount of houses needed to meet the very basic need of our citizens - the right to be housed,” he said.

As part of the council’s €47 million budget for 2005, it has committed itself “to focus on the provision of social and affordable housing”.

Work is due to commence on a 125-house scheme at Ballygunner, while further smaller scale developments involving 26 houses in total are planned for Morrison’s Road, St Martin’s Avenue, Newport Square and Lisduggan.

In addition, it is anticipated that up to 40 social or affordable housing units will become available during 2005 under the conditions of the Planning and Development Act 2000.

Mr Cullinane has spoken out in the last months about the lack of progress with provision of accommodation for Travellers and the homeless in Waterford city.

The majority of the city council’s budget for 2005 is dedicated to environmental protection, where expenditure will increase from almost €10m to more than €12.33m.

A considerable proportion of the additional spending in this area will be devoted to management of domestic waste.