Offaly councillor calls for more social houses amid 5-year gap since last new builds

There have been fresh calls for more social houses to be built in Edenderry this week amid a growing listing and a five-year gap since the last direct council development in the town.

Fine Gael councillor Noel Cribbin is calling on Offaly County Council to build at least 60 to 80 mixed-type housing in Edenderry ASAP.

"I have been repeatedly calling for OCC to purchase lands in Edenderry for them to be able to supply houses to the market here in Edenderry for years now. At this stage the shortage of council houses is a serious problem for all concerned.

"The last scheme that the council built was a lovely development of 35 beautiful homes overlooking the pitch and putt course which is five years ago now," he added.

"In the mean time there has only been a handful of Part 5 homes from the private market and some allocations of vacant council homes. There are over 200 families on the housing list for Edenderry and these few coming from the private market and voids are not coming near  to clearing the list and to help families on the housing list for years to get their own forever homes.

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"Also what’s very worrying for many families is the fear that the house their renting will be sold by the owner. I am dealing with several families in this situation and it’s a very stressful situation for them as unlike years ago, it’s now nearly impossible to get a house to rent in town.

"In Offaly this week in the entire length of the county, there is only four houses to rent and two of these cost €1,500 a month. Last year as part of the Edenderry 5 year LAP plan we as councillors rezoned land for new builds and I have spoken to housing officials this week  to request that these lands be looked at with the intention to purchase and begin the process of building new council houses in Edenderry which could be a 3 to 4 year process again somebody turns the key in the door to their new home.

"There is no doubt that the demand for council houses is there and the only way to make serious inroads in the huge list is to build at least a scheme of 60 to 80 new homes. This would in turn free up many rentals and take the pressure off families that get that dreaded news that their landlord is selling up.

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"This government has put huge resources into building new council houses and the money is there for councils to draw down. I’m calling on Offaly County Council to play its part by firstly acquiring the land needed and then the houses for all those living in hope of moving into their own forever council home in the next few years in Edenderry," Cllr Cribbin concluded.