A single mother with two children in Portlaoise is facing a rent hike from €550 to €900 in August which she will no longer be able to afford, today’s Portlaoise Municipal Meeting heard.
The meeting was told there is a housing crisis in the county, with 60 people presenting themselves as homeless so far this month.
There are no land banks owned by Laois County Council in Portlaoise which could help alleviate the housing crisis in the town, it emerged at the meeting.
Cllr Jerry Lodge appealed to people not to hike rents to the maximum. “In our history we were taught about tenant farmers who couldn’t pay their rent and were evicted,” he said.
This had been done by English landlords he said, when people were looking for fixity of tenure and a fair rent.
“Now we have Irish men and women doing this to Irish men and women. They are pushing up the rent to the maximum that they can get. It is very unfair. I would ask people with any sort of a conscience to think before they push up their rent,” he said.
Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley had a motion before the monthly meeting of Portlaoise Municipal District which sought what land banks are in possession of the local authority in the Portlaoise Municipal Area for social housing.
She told the meeting today that she was disappointed with the response to her motion. “I specifically asked what land banks are in our possession and what efforts are being made to buy lands. I feel let down by the response. There isn’t anything,” she said.
A response from Ian McCormack, SEO of housing outlined that 33 houses are being developed at Coniberry Way. Also listed were 2 Harpurs Lane and 54 Hillview Drive.
The council is also continuing its efforts to purchase the remaining derelict properties at Hepburn Court Estate.
There is also the possibility of a small number of houses at the Knockmay open space area. It is also hoped to finalise the purchase of the Squash Court and Kingdom Hall in the coming weeks.
Five houses in Jessop Street will also be made available for social housing in July 2017.
Discussions are also ongoing with a number of voluntary housing bodies with regards to the provision of housing in a number of areas in Portlaoise.
Part 5 purchases are being agreed in Bellingham, Higgs Lane and Rockview which will provide a further 26 properties, the meeting heard.
Negotiations
Negotiations are also ongoing with other developers.
Cllr Dwane Stanley said there are currently 1,400 applicants for housing in the county, and 60 people per month are presenting themselves as homeless.
In 2016, a total of 50 houses were provided and so far in 2017, 24 houses have been provided. In 2016, 10 houses were acquired and so far this year a further 22 have been bought.
She said the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) limit for a single person looking to rent is just €420 and €610 for a couple.
She said those who opt for HAP are taken off the housing waiting list and put on a reserve one. “That is camouflaging the figures,” she said.
“There are less and less houses out there. People earning over €500 a week can’t get on the housing list,” she said.
“The problem is not just Laois, it’s nationwide. We have very little hope to give people,” she said.
Leadership needs to come from the council, and funding can then be provided, Cllr Willie Aird said. “If we had planning permission for 20 or 30 houses then I have no doubt we will get funding for it,” he said.
He said the Coneyboro issue has been going on for 19 years.
The example of a single mother with two children living in Esker Hills was given by Cllr Aird. He said she is facing a massive jump in her rent from €550 to €900 in August.
Special meeting
He sought a special meeting of Laois County Council on housing to be attending by the council CEO and all elected members, which was agreed to.
The example he gave was only the tip of the iceberg, Cllr Aird said.
People who earn above the €26,000 salary cut off point are given no leeway, Cllr Noel Touhey said. “These are the new disadvantaged people,” he said.
He said people who are not eligible for rent assistance are being refused loans to buy houses.
SEE ALSO – Sinn Fein TD says private rental market in Laois ‘like Wild West’
