The importance of providing homes for people locally’s been a key talking point for some Kilkenny councillors today.
Members of the Castlecomer Municipal District held their monthly meeting this morning and heard how there’s been some progress in pockets across North Kilkenny.
Including the sod being turned on a spot close to the river in Goresbridge where nine houses are being built
Denis Hynes says that’s been a long time coming, telling KCLR News “I mean it’s 26 and a half years since the people of the village have waited now to see houses being provided so it’s a huge welcome and I’m delighted to see the council are further investigating potential compulsory purchase orders and looking at vacant sites and further developments and all that’s to be greatly welcomed, it was badly needed there’s been some brilliant development in ‘Comer”.
He also says one of his concerns appears to have been rectified, noting “The extraordinary delay in giving out the houses in Ballyragget, which is 22 houses on the Station Road but they are going to be given out in the next couple of weeks, there was a delay there due to ESB connection but they are going to be given out to people who are desperately waiting to find out whether they’re fortunate in getting a home within the next two weeks I believe”.
But Cllr Hynes outlines another issue that continues which he’d like to see addressed, saying “In Kilkenny where 33,000 is the cap, if you earn above that you can’t get on the housing list and that’s a problem that has to be addressed as a matter or urgency because if you’re capped if someone is now on the average income, the average industrial wage, they can’t get on the housing list and that’s a problem as well so it’s something the council certainly have to look into in a serious way going forward”.
