Fine Gael Candidate for Galway city East, Shane Forde, has hit out at Galway City Council for its “complete failure in delivering any affordable housing schemes for first time buyers in the city.”
According to Mr Forde; “Government is providing unprecedented levels of funding to assist in the delivery of housing, yet officials of Galway City Council appear to be sitting on their hands when it comes to delivering affordable housing”.
“Members of the Council are also culpable, they should be banging down doors, insuring affordable housing is delivered.”
He continued by saying; “There exists a cohort of people, mainly young workers, who can’t afford housing in the private market, yet they don’t qualify for social housing as the breach income limits. The housing needs of these people have been ignored by Galway City Council”.
Mr Forde claims; “The council must use land in its ownership to deliver affordable schemes throughout the city. Local authorities in other parts of the country are advertising schemes that are being snapped up by qualifying first time buyers, there is no reason way Galway City Council don’t do likewise. If the council doesn’t own suitable sites, it should go out into the market and buy sites”.
“Government is providing funding of €75,000 per unit and the help to buy scheme is also available to first time buyers. It’s a shame no scheme is yet to be advertised in Galway.”
