Over 1,200 people currently on housing list in Mayo
There are currently 1,235 people on the housing list in Co Mayo, according to new figures revealed by director of housing, Tom Gilligan.
Mayo's social housing list has 1,235 applicants.
Director of Housing with Mayo County Council, Tom Gilligan, told members of the Housing Strategic Policy Committee (SPC) last week that 443 people are waiting for social housing in the Castlebar Municipal District, with 315 in Westport-Belmullet, 293 in Claremorris-Swinford and 184 in Ballina.
Of the 1,235 people looking for homes, 457 are waiting for one-bedroom homes, which is the most out of all categories.
Between April 2016 and April 2022, the number of vacant dwellings in Mayo decreased by 19% from 10,597 to 8,922, while the number of holiday homes rose from 4,855 to 5,987. Housing stock grew by 4% from 65,921 to 68,282. The Ballina Municipal District has the most derelict sites with 103, while Claremorris-Swinford has 95, Westport-Belmullet has 54 and Castlebar has 35.
The council hopes to build 730 new social houses by 2026, as part of the Government's Housing For All initiative, but there is no target for affordable housing.
Mr Gilligan also revealed that there will be 66 new social homes at the former Chesire Home Site in Ballina while there are 33 new social homes in a turn-key stage at the Turlough Road, Castlebar.
Westport councillor Christy Hyland asked: “What makes affordable housing affordable?”
He said that in Dublin, on average, you need a combined income of €127,000 to get a mortgage for a semi-detached house. He also called for the income limit for social housing to be increased from €30,000 to €50,000 as “middle Ireland is a no man’s land”.
Cllr Michael Kilcoyne criticised the length of time it takes to approve affordable housing through the Department of Housing.
“You have to send them every note that you write and prepare a report and send it off. Then wait for them to come back. They’ll come back to you with queries and then you answer. It’s just nightmare stuff, it’s stalling tactics being used by the Department,” Cllr Kilcoyne claimed.
SPC member Donna Hyland, who is a Sinn Féin candidate in next year's local elections, said she hopes there will be more social housing coming on stream and that there is a lack of clarity with affordable housing guidelines at a national level.
