Kerry County Council has taken a major step forward towards the provision of affordable housing in this county.
The council will next month invite expressions of interest from developers to deliver low-cost properties in Tralee and Killarney.
The council’s Director of Housing, Niamh O’Sullivan, said engagement with the department about rolling out affordable housing in other parts of Kerry has also been positive.
The Local Authority Affordable Purchase Scheme allows local authorities to provide newly-built homes for people to buy at reduced prices, through the local authority taking a percentage stake in the home.
Affordable housing schemes are aimed at people who earn too much to qualify for social housing, but not enough to compete in the private housing market.
County councillors in Kerry have criticised the local authority for its lack of progress in delivering affordable housing in this county.
At this month’s meeting of Kerry County Council, CEO Fearghal Reidy included in his report that the council is progressing the assessment and delivery of affordable housing.
By 12th December, the council will publish a public advert inviting expression of interest from developers to deliver affordable housing in Tralee and Killarney.
At the meeting, the council’s Director of Housing Niamh O’Sullivan added that the detail of the expression of interest is still being teased out, and it was unable to say right now which sites will be developed in Tralee or Killarney.
She said that if there are no delays, people will be able to purchase homes under the Affordable Housing Act by next March.
Ms O’Sullivan said it is difficult to quantify the number of units this will deliver as it depends on the number and size of developments, but it could deliver 10-20 units per scheme.
Multiple councillors spoke at the meeting about the need for affordable housing in areas other than Tralee and Killarney, and Ms O’Sullivan said engagement with the department has been very good, and she’s optimistic the council will be able to roll out the scheme in other areas down the line.
