Longford's affordable homes ‘out of reach’
At a recent meeting of Longford Municipal District Cllr Uruemu Adejinmi called on both the Minister for Public Expenditure and the Minister for Housing to urgently increase the state subsidy available for affordable housing schemes.
Cllr Uruemu Adejinmi has highlighted concerns that rising construction costs are making affordable housing schemes unaffordable for some applicants.
Addressing the chamber at a recent meeting of Longford Municipal District, Cllr Adejinmi said some households, particularly single parents who earn above the threshold for social housing, are falling into a gap where they do not qualify for housing supports but cannot secure a mortgage large enough to cover the cost of an affordable home.
Cllr Adejinmi called on the Minister for Public Expenditure and the Minister for Housing to urgently increase the state subsidy available for affordable housing schemes in light of escalating costs, which, she said, were driving up house prices and reducing affordability for working individuals and families.
She also called on the government to provide additional funding to reduce the financial burden placed on Longford County Council through its equity contribution to affordable housing projects, ensuring that affordable homes “remain genuinely affordable and that future housing developments are not jeopardised by funding shortfalls.”
Cllr Niall Gannon agreed, adding, “I think the most difficult call we get as councillors is from somebody that's working 9-5 job, is over the threshold and don't qualify obviously for a council house, but they don't qualify for mortgages either. It's a terribly hard place to be.”
Cllr Butler said, “At least from the original scheme, if it took just the inflation figures over the last 2 to 3 years and adjusted accordingly, then I think that would go a long way to achieving what we want.”
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