Kerry council seeks to expand affordable housing scheme beyond main towns

Kerry County Council is in discussions with the Department of Housing to expand its affordable housing scheme, Radio Kerry reported. The update was provided during a meeting of the Castleisland-Corca Dhuibhne Municipal District following a motion from Fianna Fáil councillor Breandán Fitzgerald. Councillor Fitzgerald requested that proposals be prepared to develop affordable housing where demand exists in the district. [1]

Radio Kerry reported that the affordable housing scheme is currently restricted to areas with a population of 10,000 or more, featuring pilot schemes in Tralee and Killarney. The council stated that it is working with the government department to extend the scheme beyond those towns and to agree on the necessary criteria. [1]

The demand for affordable housing options remains high across the region. As FTMQ News reported earlier, figures from Cork County Council showed that 1,862 households applied for just 85 cost-rental homes in Cork, meaning fewer than 5 percent of applicants secured a property. [4]

Take-up for other state housing initiatives in the county has been limited. As FTMQ News reported earlier, Radio Kerry previously revealed that only one household in County Kerry completed a property purchase using the government First Home Scheme between June and September. [5]