A first-time councillor says the new national government is making housing their top priority, and has called on Kerry County Council to do the same.
At the recent council meeting, Councillor Tommy Cahill proposed the council take several actions to address the housing crisis here.
Cllr Cahill’s motion proposed people should be allowed to build on their family’s land.
He said that he has only a handful of friends living locally because many emigrated when they weren’t allowed to build on their own land.
He also called for planning permission to be granted for more housing units for young families in Kerry.
In the third part of his motion, he asked if South Kerry could be used as a pilot area to develop cluster housing or community housing, with the local authority providing low-cost sites for young families.
Cllr Cahill said if we do not implement these changes, young people will continue to emigrate from our communities.
In response, council management says its rural housing policy, in accordance with the County Development Plan 2022-2028, already considers the needs of farmers' sons and daughters, as well as other local residents.
Management also stated its policy had identified 37 settlements in Kerry which are suitable for cluster housing, subject to normal planning criteria.
They told Cllr Cahill its planning department actively engages with landowners and other interested groups who wish to develop such initiatives.
They told Cllr Cahill more information can be found in the County Development Plan.
