*Photograph: Joe Buckley
APPROVAL for an affordable housing scheme in Shannon has been granted to Clare County Council.
An application made by the housing section of Clare County Council to the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an affordable housing project in Shannon has been successful, officials in the local authority have confirmed.
Ten proposed affordable homes are set to be included in the Shannon project. It was the first application by the local authority for an affordable housing project.
As of yet, a location on where this housing scheme will be situated is unknown.
The Clare Echo understands that Clare County Council will advertise for applications relating to the Shannon scheme in the first quarter of 2024. Officials in the Council remain committed to exploring all options relating to the provision of affordable housing across the entire county.
In May, the Council was granted approval in principle from the Department for access to the Affordable Housing Fund for schemes in Shannon and Ennis. In March, the Council made a submission to the Department seeking the inclusion of both towns. Data included in this was sourced from an expression of interest survey ran by the Council which had over 1000 responses.
Persons on moderate incomes are assisted to buy new homes at reduced prices under the Local Authority Affordable Purchase Scheme. Homes included in the scheme are located in areas with the greatest housing need and where affordability is an issue.
Cllr Gerry Flynn (IND) who chairs the Social Development Strategic Policy Committee which has responsibility for housing felt the amount of properties included in the scheme was insufficient.
He told The Clare Echo, “I’m happy to see we’re getting something in Shannon but I don’t think ten affordable houses is enough, as chair of housing policy I’d like to have got more detail on where they are going and the type of development we are talking about”.
Shannon based Flynn admitted elected representatives were being fed scant detail by officials in the Council. “I’m being kept in the dark as far as a lot of this is going on and I see it as disrespectful to tell the truth, I don’t think it is any way to treat people who are democratically elected, I’ve to give answers to people asking me questions. There is a lot of spin going on and the public out there deserve more transparency”.
