This article is from page 9 of the 2014-04-22 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 9 JPG
TWENTY two Clare families will be taken off the housing waiting list and placed in a new home following the announcement of funding to renovate long-term vacant local authority properties in the the county last week.
Just in excess of € 400,000 has been allocated to the renovation of the Clare properties with in excess of € 18,277 needed on average to bring the Clare properties back to the standard required standard.
The news comes as the local authority housing waiting list in Clare is understood to be in excess of 2,000 people with a long waits time being experienced by applicants. As result of consistent budget cuts over the last five years, Clare County Council has had very little finances made available to to for the construction or purchase of social housing.
This comes at a time when the economic recession is forcing more people than ever before into the so- cial housing system has brought the system to a virtual standstill.
“There is significant pressure on social housing supply and I am determined that no suitable homes will be left empty when there are families in need of housing,” said Minister for Housing and Planning, Jan O’Sullivan (Lab).
“Vacant local authority houses, many of which are boarded up, are intolerable. They should be providing a home for a family and rental income for the local authority.”
Meanwhile, 19 Clare schools which do not currently operate a book rental scheme, will receive € 235,900 in funding during 2014 and 2015.
The largest allocation will be for the CBS in Ennis who will receive € 64,600. Clonlara National School will receive € 34,000, Knockanean National School will receive € 27,800 while St Mary’s National School in Lahinch will get € 15,100.
Other schools to receive funding include Meelick National School € 14,800, Ruan National School € 11,100 and Kilkishen National School € 10,400.