Housing

Doyle supports planning application for new social housing units in Bray

andrew 2016, Housing, Wicklow - East Carlow , ,

andrewhousingbrayFine Gael TD for Wicklow/East Carlow, Andrew Doyle, has welcomed a Wicklow Country Council planning application to build 42 social housing units on Kilbride Lane, Bray.

“Public housing is in great demand in County Wicklow and I have been working closely with the Minister for Housing to ensure that Wicklow County Council was able to fill 2 positions, a Senior Executive Architect and Executive Architect. Since these appointments have been made the county council has had the capacity to prepare this land for development.

“I look forward to Wicklow County Council, in association with a number of housing trusts, announcing more social housing projects in County Wicklow in 2016.

“In 2011 when Fine Gael entered government there was no prospect for the building of public housing. Now Wicklow County Council has over €35 million to spend on housing over the next 4 years under the 2020 Social Housing Strategy.

“This week 32 new housing units will be opened in Glenbrook Heights, Newtownmountkennedy provided by Tuath Housing Association. Tuath Housing has worked closely with the Department of the Environment to acquire these units under the Capital Assistance Scheme 2015.

“The increased cooperation between the Department of the Environment, Wicklow County Council and Housing Trusts will result in an increased number of social housing units and a reduction in the number of people on the housing list.”

Incremental Purchase Scheme allows social housing tenants buy their home, but terms should be extended – Doyle

andrew 2016, Housing, Uncategorized, Wicklow - East Carlow , ,

social housingFine Gael TD for Wicklow, Andrew Doyle, has welcomed the new Incremental Purchase Scheme which will allow social housing tenants to buy their first home. However he has called for the scheme to be extended to include those living in houses acquired by the council, as part of the Part V social and affordable scheme.

“The Incremental Purchase Scheme will allow social housing tenants to purchase their homes from Wicklow County Council at a discount of 60%, 50% or 40% and an incremental charge on the house equivalent to the discount. Social housing applicants/tenants who are in employment and earning a minimum income of €15,000 per annum are eligible to apply for the Scheme. This is an extremely positive scheme that will help people in social housing to get on the property ladder and purchase their homes.

“The new Incremental Purchase Scheme does not however include people who are in houses acquired by the council as part of the Part V social and affordable scheme and this is an anomaly that I believe should be addressed.

“As it stands people who are living in homes acquired by the council, but which are not technically social housing are not included in this scheme. If these tenants have the finance in place and are in a position to purchase, I believe that they too should have the opportunity to buy their home.

“This is an issue that I intend to raise with the Department of the Environment and Wicklow County Council.”