*Cllr Gerry Flynn. Photograph: Eamon Ward
Bulk buying by vulture funds needs to be prohibited by the Minister for Housing, a Shannon representative has argued.
Clare County Council are to request Minister for Housing, Darragh O’Brien (FF) to change the requirements under Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000.
This is so the mandatory increase on developers to 20% in the Housing for All policy will “be entirely focused on the delivery of affordable housing and the social element be removed as it is causing considerable difficulties for developers who are in the business of building private housing,” Cllr Gerry Flynn (IND) outlined.
Flynn who is the Chair of the Social Development Strategic Policy Committee (SPC) which has responsibility for housing also called on Minister O’Brien “to prohibit bulk buying by vulture funds in order that private development is available to owner occupiers”.
Proper resources are needed for local authorities to deliver social housing, Cllr Flynn said as he urged the Minister to expand the Local Authority Home Loan Scheme aimed at single applicants to counties other than Dublin, Cork and Galway.
Reports that Clare will not get an affordable housing scheme under the Housing for All plan was labelled as “very worrying” by Flynn. He said a change in the banding system also needs to be considered, “it hasn’t been changed since 2011”.
Maximum household income limits, to qualify for Housing Assistance Payment, are organised under three “bands” depending on the area in which a household wishes to rent. Band 1 covers the four Dublin local authorities plus Cork City, Meath, Kildare and Wicklow, the maximum annual net income thresholds are €35,000 for a single person and €42,000 for a family with children. Band 2 is comprised of Limerick City and County, Cork County, Kerry, Kilkenny, Louth, Wexford, Waterford City and County, the net income thresholds are €30,000 and €36,000.
Clare is included in Band 3 alongside Carlow, Cavan, Donegal, Galway County, Laois, Leitrim, Longford, Mayo, Monaghan, Offaly, Roscommon, Sligo, Tipperary and Westmeath, the limits are €25,000 and €30,000.
Cllr Donna McGettigan (SF) said she had concerns over elements for social housing being removed. “I do like the aspect to prohibit bulk buying from vulture funds”.
“I know we’re in the provision and entirely focused on provision of social housing, I’m saying 20% on affordable which is there to encourage developers to get back on the pitch and build houses. The social element is well covered, I think we’re over egging it to a certain degree,” Flynn replied.
