Almost 1,300 on waiting list for housing but funding slashed

A massive cut in the town council's housing budget for 2010 means there is unlikely to be major inroads made on the 1,289-strong housing waiting list. Director of Services Barry Kehoe told Monday's town council meeting that the allocation for construction/acquiring houses had been cut from €2,290,000 in 2009 to €885,000 this year. He was responding to queries from Cllr Paul Hogan who pointed out that the council had planned to buy seven houses this year, which wouldn't be possible if the budget had been severely cut. The council will also be allocated €100,000 for remedial works; €100,000 for energy works; €30,000 for compliance with new rental standards; €35,000 for extensions and DPG extensions, which amounts to €360,000 on top of the €885,000, bringing the total to €1,245,000. Mr Kehoe said Westmeath County Council would also be allocated €1.62m for RAS and €1m capital funding for houses for the elderly, which would be distributed on a countywide basis. He also told the councillors that a meeting between the housing section of the council and the Department was scheduled for February 17 and he would be coming back to them at the March meeting with proposals on how to spend the 2010 allocation.