HOUSING

It is the policy of the Housing Section of Carlow County Council

• To enable every household to have available an affordable dwelling of good quality, suited to its needs, in a good environment and as far as possible at a tenure of their choice.
• To promote home ownership and a thriving more diverse and well managed rented sector, both public and private.
• To maintain the living and construction standards of all properties to a high standard
• To liaise with our tenants and social partners to ensure that present and future requirements are expedited.

 

Carlow County Council’s activities as a Housing Authority can be summarised under the following headings:

• The provision and management of rented Council Housing
• The provision of self help grants to enable tenants carry out improvements to their homes
• The promotion of home ownership through increasing the housing procurement alternatives
• The improvement of accommodation, for both the elderly and disabled persons, by way of grant assistance – Essential Repairs Grant and Disabled Persons Grant schemes.
• The provision and management of accommodation for vulnerable groups
• The facilitation of approved voluntary and non-profit housing organisations in the provision of housing and communal facilities.

 

Housing & Social Policy Strategic Policy Committee

At its meetings, the Housing and Social Strategic Policy Committee, under the Chairmanship of Cllr. John Pender, discussed the strategic requirements in respect of housing provision and social development.  The principal issues examined were affordable housing provision, housing grant schemes and operation, traveller accommodation, housing allocations, loans and initiatives and private rented dwellings.

A mid-term review of the Action Plan for Social and Affordable Housing 2004 – 2008 was carried out in 2006. Following endorsement by the Strategic Policy Committee the review was presented to Carlow County Council at it’s June 2006 monthly meeting and submitted for the approval of the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government. 

 

Housing Activity in 2006

The Council meets peoples housing need by the direct provision of accommodation or assisting individuals to provide their own accommodation.  Improvement works in lieu of re-housing, essential repair grants and disabled persons grants also contributed to meeting needs.  Details of direct housing provision are as follows:

 

Housing Programme 2006

Other areas of Housing Activity in 2006 include:

• During 2006 approval was granted under the Planning & Development Act, 2000 (Section 4 & Section 179), Planning & Development Regulations, 2001 (Part 8) for the following developments:

• 16 No. Houses at Rathvilly
• 2  No. Houses at Carrigduff
• Rural House at Newtown, Borris
• Communal facility and 7 No. Apartments at Royal Oak Road.

• Carlow County Council continued its extensive work of planned maintenance of its housing stock.  Solid fuel cookers were replaced in 6 houses and 10 houses were repaired under our planned maintenance programme. 42 houses were upgraded for re-letting.  Casual repairs were also carried out at 828 rented properties.

• The central heating programme initiative introduced by the Department of Environment, Heritage & Local Government in 2004 was accelerated in 2006.  The programme enables Carlow County Council to increase the number of Council houses into which it has installed central heating.  Under the initiative a maximum of €5,600 per house towards the cost of central heating provision is provided from Central Government Funds with the balance being provided by the Council. Central heating was provided in 65 local authority dwellings during 2006.

The Bedroom Extension Scheme allows for existing Council houses to be extended to alleviate overcrowding.  One bedroom extension was completed in 2006. 

• 2006 saw a major increase in activity in relation to Disabled Persons Grants and Essential Repair Grants as follows:

• A total of 173 DPG applications were received in the period from 01/01/2006 to 31/12/2006.105 of these applications were approved with a combined value of €1,193,873.10.

• In relation to Essential Repair Grants, 208 applications were received in 2006 with173 applications being approved having a combined value of €675,749.00.

• Due to the increased number of DPG / ERG applications and the quicker turnover time in dealing with these applications a request for an increased allocation for 2006 was made to the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government.  This request was approved with the allocation being increased from €570,000 to €966,000.

• A total of 15 Shared Ownership and House Purchase Loans were availed of in 2006, the value of which amounted to €2,053,873

• 4 houses were extensively repaired under the Improvement Works in Lieu scheme in 2006 with a further one Improvement Works in Lieu in progress at year end.

• A total of 23 houses were purchased under The Tenant Purchase Scheme in 2006.

• In 2006, under Part V of the Planning & Development Act 2000 negotiations were concluded in relation to the acquisition of 5 social units and   7 affordable units in  Tullow and Carlow.

• During 2006 the refurbishment of Bestfield Traveller Facility was substantially completed. 

Voluntary Housing

The provision of accommodation through the Capital Loan Subsidy Scheme and the Capital Assistance Scheme continues to play an important role in meeting the Council’s housing needs.

 

• As part of the Integrated Housing Scheme at Royal Oak Road, Muinebheag, Respond are constructing 28 housing units under the Capital Assistance Scheme and 12 units under the Capital Loan Subsidy Scheme.  15 housing units under the Capital Assistance Scheme and 12 units under the Capital Loan Subsidy Scheme have been allocated to tenants who will take up their tenancy early in 2007.

• The Department of the Environment, Heritage & Local Government have granted pre tender approval to the proposed Respond 26 unit Capital Assistance Scheme at St. Francis Farm, Tullow.

 

• Tintean have appointed a design team for the construction of a 35 to 40 house scheme on the remaining County Council lands at Tinryland.

Provision for the Homeless

The St. Vincent De Paul Hostel continues to play an important role in meeting the need of those seeking emergency accommodation.  Carlow County Council continued its financial support of the hostel during 2006. 

National Service Indicators