There was some welcome news on the housing front at this week’s meeting of Laois County Council.
Council Chief Executive, Mr John Mulholland confirmed to the elected members that 200 Council homes were expected to be completed by the end of 2023.
This figure includes properties in all corners of the County, including Portlaoise, Portarlington, Mountmellick, Stradbally, Mountrath, Rathdowney and more.
The news was warmly welcome by the elected members in the chamber.
However, there was one voice of unrest coming from Independent Cllr Ben Brennan.
Cllr Brennan was at his wit’s end in pleading for regulations to be eased regarding the building of log cabins.
Cllr Brennan said such restrictions were blocking the chances for people own their own homes, insisting log cabins last up to 25 year – even longer than the far more readily available modular homes.
On the matter of modular homes, Sinn Féin Cllr Aidan Mullins queried if the Ukrainian refugees who had been housed in such structures would be paying rent.
Senior Executive Officer Ms Carmel McNicholl said that yes, a rent agreement was in place for those in modular homes.
Cllr Mullins welcomed the response, saying that all he wants is equality of treatment as the refugees are in receipt of social welfare payments, noting that Ireland was alone in this provision.
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