Senior executive officer Martin Keating said that revised housing capital allocations had been received from the department last week, with the local social housing programme decreased by €2 million from €12 million to €10 million. Due to this decrease the development at Kileen and rural applications will be on hold.
As for housing grants, notice is due to be received this week, but mobility grants are still being approved.
Cllr John O’Malley said that the Government were “pure lazy” in “dragging their heels” in the essential repairs grants and that it was “embarrassing” for councillors to have to put up with constant calls from concerned applicants who want to know when they will be in receipt of new windows and doors. Party colleague Cllr Austin O’Malley agreed that he was “snowed under” with calls about these grants. The councillor was also disappointed that work on the Kileen project would now come to a halt.
Fianna Fáil councillor Frank Chambers welcomed the €10 million which is being made available and hoped that there would be some announcement soon on housing grants. Cllr Margaret Adams said that there was no need for “scaremongering” as the money for housing grants will come through.
