Major new housing plans for Mallow, Clonakilty, Carrigaline and Kinsale

It is hoped the council will itself provide 500 homes, and a further 200 in conjunction with the approved voluntary housing bodies this year

Money is also being set aside to make all older council houses more energy-efficient.

Cork County Council, in conjunction with voluntary housing bodies, expects to build up to 700 new homes in the county this year.

It is part of the local authority’s capital investment plan, which will see €927m spent primarily on the construction of social and affordable housing between 2024 and 2026.