Warm welcome for affordable housing scheme in Mayo
Cllr Michael Kilcoyne said the houses were badly needed.
The announcement that 35 new affordable housing units are to be constructed in Castlebar was warmly welcomed by members of the Housing Strategic Policy Committee (SPC) of Mayo County Council last week.
Cathaoirleach Cllr Peter Flynn described it as welcome news, saying affordable housing is “the most important thing in Mayo right now".
Concerns were raised however as to the anticipated price of the units, with Cllr Harry Barrett citing prices of between €260,000 to €325,000 for the units, which would give rise to challenging mortgages of around €1,600 per month for buyers.
Council management cautioned against such speculation, saying that the scheme has just been announced and no details around pricing have yet been released but as soon as they become known, they will be made public.
Cllr Peter Flynn said the reality is that those earning around €32,000 to €35,000 “will be excluded because you need to have €70,000 or €80,000 coming into a household to afford the anticipated prices".
Cllr Michael Kilcoyne said the houses are “extremely welcome”, adding: “Up to now in Castlebar there has been no affordable housing and this should be just a start. However, for those people earning €34,000 or €35,000 who can’t get a house this is causing fierce hurt because they are being deprived of a place to live. Hopefully it is the start of more similar schemes eligible to all.”
Cllr Harry Barrett also welcomed the new scheme but warned: “I have issues with the price points and the saddling of young couples with substantial mortgages. My dream is for the council to get the prices down with modular homes as young couples are saying it doesn’t make sense any more to work.”
The outgoing Director of Services for Housing Tom Gilligan added that modular homes are going to be part of the council's housing programme in the future.
Administrative Officer Michelle Killeen told members that details on pricing were not ready to go into the public domain just yet, stating: “We have just received notification of this scheme, and it is developer-led, which is very different to the one we just completed. As soon as we are ready to go with prices and requirements, we will promote it, as will the developer, and anyone can contact the affordable housing section in the council."
