80% of social housing options in in the Kenmare Municipal District are made up of one and two bed applicants.
Currently, there are 430 applicants waiting for a one bed home in the area, as pointed out by Cllr Teddy O'Sullivan Casey at a recent MD meeting.
Due to the high demand of one-bed residences in the Kenmare MD, Cllr Teddy O'Sullivan Casey is asking the council to look at other options urgently, including shop accommodation and derelict buildings to address the shortage.
As well as this, he asked for clarification on the reason for delays on the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS), for those who have found a landlord willing to rent to them.
In response, Kerry County Council Housing Officer, Ger O'Brien, addressed these queries by stating that 80% of social housing applications were for one and two-bed dwellings, with 60% for one-bed residences.
Due to the high volume of these applications these have priority, and "no stone is left unturned" in seeking suitable options.
As well as this, repair and lease schemes, along with properties acquired through Compulsory Purchase Orders, are being explored as options to address the shortage of one bed social housing.
With regards to the delays in RAS applications, these are addressed on a case by case basis, and Mr O'Brien has asked Cllr. O'Sullivan Casey to come to him with specific cases.
