Westport affordable housing allocation branded as ‘disappointing’

THE designation of five houses from a new 50-unit estate in Westport as affordable housing has been called ‘disappointing’ by a local representative.

Earlier this week, Minister of State for Housing Alan Dillon confirmed, that five houses in a new social housing estate on the Golf Course Road would be sold to eligible applicants for between €232,000 and €259,000. The three-bedroom houses are estimated to have a market value of €325,000 to €345,000.

Though welcoming the announcement as ‘positive news’, local Fine Gael councillor Peter Flynn expressed disappointment that more houses weren’t designated as affordable.

Cllr Flynn told the Westport-Belmullet Municipal District budget meeting that his phone was ‘hopping’ since Minister Dillon formally announced the news.

Local representatives demanded for years that a certain proportion of the houses on the Golf Course Road be designated as affordable. The issue was often subject to lengthy and fractious debate at several meetings of the Westport-Belmullet Municipal District - even after the development was formally sanctioned.

Cllr Flynn estimated that people with incomes between €45,000 and €90,000 will be eligible to apply to purchase the houses.

“It’s not ideal in terms of numbers. At the time, a number of us voted for 30 houses down there [to be designated as affordable] and look we’ve ended up with five, it’s way below the requirement,” said Cllr Flynn.

“The one plus about it is that it will allow us to gauge the level of interest through the application process and I am urging people to apply once it opens up so we can truly show the vast demand that there is for affordable housing, not just in Westport, but way beyond and right around the county.”

Seamus O’Mongain, Head of Westport-Belmullet Municipal District, said he had no further information regarding the affordable units on the Golf Course Road.

Joanne Grehan, Westport-Belmullet Municipal District’s Director of Services, said she would get clarity on the criteria for purchasing the houses as soon as possible.

Former county councillor Christy Hyland was lukewarm regarding the announcement, telling The Mayo News that 25 of the houses should have been designated as affordable.

Westport has already received approval for a 13-unit affordable housing development in the Quay area, which is so far the only affordable housing scheme in Mayo.

A greenfield site in Castlebar with potential for over 70 affordable units is also being assessed to determine its suitability under the Affordable Housing Fund. 

A total of €375,000 has been allocated under the fund to subsidise the five affordable units at the Golf Course Road in Westport.