Over a 1,000 people waiting on Athlone housing list

There are 18 people currently classified as “homeless” in Westmeath.

While across the midlands, there are 55 in that situation.

In Athlone, numbers on the social housing waiting list at March 31 were 1,253.

 

The 18 in Westmeath, all adults, are in emergency accommodation, David Hogan, Director of Services, revealed to members of a Westmeath County Council committee last week.

The average cost of getting a local authority house ready for new tenants after previous residents move out comes to €12,000.

The meeting was also told it takes around six to eight weeks per house before new tenants take occupancy of the dwelling.

In terms of the provision of planned new housing units in the county, he said that for Athlone, there are 28 units approved for Arcadia, at a cost of €5.1m, while the council is at an advanced planning stage for the provision of 5-6 units at McCormack Park, 6 units at Battery Heights, and 20 units at Ashdale.

In addition, the housing charity RESPOND has received approval for four units at Chapel Street, Athlone and for one unit at Sarsfield Square.

The number of approved applications on the housing list has gone down in the first three months of this year, the meeting also learned. There were 2,729 on the list on January 1, and on March 31, 2,678.