New Housing Minister being invited to meet Carlow Councillors over a number of housing issues

Carlow could be set to get a visit from the new Housing Minister in the next number of weeks.

Councillors were told at yesterday’s monthly meeting that Eoghan Murphy has been invited to turn the sod on 26 houses in Graiguecullen and to officially open 24 in Bagenalstown.

The members have now asked that Minister Murphy, along with Junior Minister John Paul Phelan, appear before the council to address ongoing housing issues – including the long-standing problem of the land aggregation scheme.

Cathaoirleach William Paton told KCLR News the council have essentially been left holding the baby on this by the government.

The scheme was established at the height of the boom where councils around the country were encouraged to purchase land for housing with the Government promising to help pay the interest.

However, when the recession hit, that was stopped and councils were left with a hefty bill on the loans they had taken out.

Carlow County Council now pays €250,000 in interest each year because of this scheme.