Kilkenny is a good place to work in, visit, live in, grow up in, and grow old in, but we can do more to make it better for everyone who lives here or visits us, while ensuring to keep our heritage and identity as a medieval county. My goal is “making Kilkenny a great place” and one of the ways to achieve this is to re-evaluate our approach to housing by treating it as a right and not a commodity. Local Authorities used to be key players in building new and affordable homes for local communities. Today, sadly, we are faced with a terrible crisis, in which a whole generation is locked out of owning or living in affordable homes.
Our priority in Kilkenny should be to put our community first by investing in homes that are affordable and future proof as energy costs rise. Kilkenny County Council needs to build many times as many homes as it presently does. Last year, the council delivered 182 social houses through purchase, acquisition and new builds. Yet, there are over 700 on the housingwaiting list plus another 700 renting on the private market with Housing Assistance Payments (HAP). A good place to start would be to know the exact number of vacant and derelict houses across the city and county. Data is critical for effective planning and to facilitate growth and development. With 800-1000 people coming to work/live in Kilkenny through Abbott, the crisis facing us would be exacerbated.
My proposed solutions:
- Kilkenny County Council needs to establish a Vacant Property Office properly staffed and mandated to draw up a list of vacant properties across the county that could be used for homes. Derelict homes can be repurposed.
- Work with others to advocate that housing be moved up the list of national priorities and
enshrined in our constitution as a fundamental human right.
- Extend the use of the Buy and Renew scheme to proactively buy vacant housing using Compulsory Purchase Orders (CPO).
- End commercial rates rebate for owners of buildings that are derelict for 12 months or more.
- Press for an adequate capital budget to build more homes for Kilkenny and build back towards a much more central role for local authorities in the direct provision and funding of social housing.
- Work to streamline and reform planning which stand in the way of housing development.
I believe that as a community we can make Kilkenny a leader in the development of public Cost-Rental schemes offering people a choice of long-term and affordable rental houses in mixed housing developments.
The future is bright for Kilkenny. Let’s work together!
