The Galway City Council's decision to grant planning approval for 58 new social housing units for Ballybane will provide "some hope for the half of City East residents living in rental accommodation".
This is the view of Labour's Galway City East candidate, Liam Boyle, who was speaking following the grant of approval at Monday's city council meeting. The approval followed the publication of new figures which revealed the average rent in Galway city is €1,260. Despite Galway being declared a rent pressure zone, rents have continued to rise.
Mr Boyle said Galway is in the grip of "a housing crisis in our city", which is manifesting itself in increasing rents; more than 300 adults and 200 children homeless throughout the county; and accommodation availability at its lowest level in more than a decade.
“Building new units must be at the heart of any solution," he said. "We need significant numbers of new homes, which meet the varied needs of residents - students, young workers, people with mobility restrictions, our elderly residents. The need for shelter is fundamental."
