'Huge interest' in five affordable Mayo homes
The five houses are included in a larger development in Westport.
Questions are set to fly in from members of the public who wish to secure one of five affordable houses announced for Westport, but details of the application process have yet to be released, members of Westport Belmullet Municipal District were told last week.
Welcoming the announcement confirming that five of the 50 social houses on the Golf Course Road will be affordable, Fine Gael Cllr Peter Flynn said he understood these will range in price from €230,000 to €259,000.
He told members: “I know the questions will start flying in from people all over the county and not just Westport on how they will qualify and it is important they know when the application process will open. I assume this will be after Christmas and will probably be open to people in the income range of €45,000 to €80,000 or €90,000."
Cllr Flynn said the number of affordable houses was limited and would certainly not meet the demand in Westport.
“While it is not ideal in terms of numbers, given that at the time this development was mooted we voted for 30 affordable houses there, the one plus is it allows us now to gauge the level of interest in the application process. Once it opens up, I would urge people to apply, to truly show the vast demand for affordable housing in Westport and beyond.”
Cllr Flynn said it now costs "from €535,000 and upwards" for three-bed houses in Westport.
"There is a major problem in Westport, which is also replicated in some of the other larger towns in the county.
“So while this is a major announcement, it is also a disappointment there are not more affordable houses. But look, we have 50 new houses coming on stream in the next few months, and five of these being affordable is good news, even if it is only the tip of the iceberg."
Cllr Flynn said he was already seeing huge interest since the announcement was made.
"My phone is hopping already today with questions around the application process.”
Head of district, Seamus O’Mongain, said he had “no further information on the application process” at the moment.
Director of Services, Joanne Grehan, added: “We will get that clarity and distribute the information as soon as possible.”
