Only 12 social houses to be delivered in 2025 in Portarlington

Portarlington people on the waiting list for a social home might have a long wait ahead, with almost no plans by Laois County Council to deliver any new such homes in 2025.

"I don't think it's good enough in November 2024 to have nothing in the 2025 programme. That means it will push into 2026," Cllr Aidan Mullins said at the November meeting of Laois County Council.

The council will get 12 new homes in Ballymorris Green next spring through Clúid Housing.

It also plans to build 11 two bedroom council homes on Bracklone Street for the elderly, but as they are only at planning stage, they are unlikely to be ready until 2026.

"Beyond that for 2025 in Portarlington, there is nothing else next year. We are the second largest town in the county. To my knowledge you don't have land banks. What are the plans?," he wants to know.

The Director of Services for Housing Angela McEvoy said the council owns residential zoned land in Portarlington.

"We are very much looking at land banks across the county. Similarly in Portarlington. We have 19 acres zoned for residential development. We have one or two proposals by Approved Housing Bodies where there has been planning permission granted but they are not taken up yet," Ms McEvoy said.

By Christmas Laois County Council will have delivered almost 120 new homes in 2024 to people on its waiting lists. None were in Portarlington.

Across Laois, the local authority has already surpassed its 2022-2026 Government target of 534 new social homes in Laois, hitting 618 already. On top of that there are 1,150 houses at planning, design and construction stages.

There are 279 social houses and apartments under construction in Laois, and 273 at planning and design stage.

This includes homes built by Approved Housing Bodies and by private developers who will sell them as turnkeys to Laois County Council.

There are over 1,600 individuals and families qualifying and waiting for a new social home in Laois.