Demand outstrips social housing supply

THE number of social houses being built in Cork County Council’s Southern Division can’t keep pace with demand.

There are 1,648 people on the waiting list in the area.

Bandon, with 196, has the largest number of people seeking a decent roof over their heads. Carrigaline came in second with 173, Douglas has 154, Midleton has 122 and Glanmire has 116.

In the case of Douglas just 48 social houses will be completed this year.

Councillor Tim Lombard said this was inadequate considering there were 154 applicants.

“Then you have to add onto that the number of people who live in close proximity and who might accept a house there. There are 39 on the waiting list in Passage West, 44 in Togher, 19 in Rochestown and 19 in Lehenaghmore. So that effectively brings the total on the list to 275.”

In Bandon just 21 social houses are to be completed by October. A further 30 are at the planning stage, but officials weren’t in a position to say when these would be ready.

The Voluntary Housing Agency, Clúid, is completing 61 homes at Kilmoney, Carrigaline. The county council plans to build 150 social houses at Kilnagleary, Carrigaline, but this project is only at design stage.

A report issued by county officials showed 20 social houses would be completed at Castletreasure, Midleton by next September, while 35 should be ready at Oatencake by August 2008. That means 67 of the applicants in that area will remain in limbo for some time.

Developers are required to hand over a percentage of their projects to the local authority for social and affordable housing, but as there is no major development in Glanmire the outlook is bleak for the 116 people on the waiting list.

Glanmire-based councillor John Gilroy said he and Mr Lombard would put down a joint motion at the council’s next full meeting to discuss workings of both schemes.