Council mortgage 'won't buy a house' in Westport, says councillor
Cllr Christy Hyland criticised the current value of the local authority home loan.
A local councillor has criticised the current value of the mortgage offered by Mayo County Council and said income bands should be lifted on social housing,
The Local Authority Home Loan is a government-backed mortgage of up to €275,000 for first-time buyers struggling to get a mortgage from a bank.
At last week’s West Mayo Municipal District meeting, Cllr Christy Hyland said the mortgage is not sufficient for the Westport area and the council should write to the Housing Minister about this issue.
“If you can find a house for €275,000 in Westport, you’d get the hand bitten off you,” he said.
Cllr Hyland explained that the current income bands on social housing need to be removed and the council should take each case on its merits when it comes to allocating social housing.
Cllr John O’Malley said there should be no income bands on either social or affordable housing.
