News of a €2.5m housing project for Feakle has been described as a step in the right direction towards addressing a housing shortage in Clare.
The minister made the statement as he revealed a provisional budget of €2,452,805 has been approved for the construction of 10 new homes in the village of Feakle.
“Clare County Council is to be allocated funding close to €2.5 million for the construction of these much needed homes. The funding is part of the Rebuilding Ireland plan that aims to tackle the housing shortage in Ireland and across County Clare,” said Minister Breen.
“Funding of new Local Authority houses is just one of the ways the Government is tackling the homelessness and housing shortage issue, but funding alone will not solve all our housing problems in the short term
“We must also prioritise better use of existing homes and improving the rental sector, and that is what the Rebuilding Ireland plan is also considering. Clare County Council is also working to refurbish vacant Local Authority Homes and has the option to purchase as well as building new homes to add to its housing stock,” said the Fine Gael Minister.
“Of course new homes are also required as a matter of urgency, and the funding of such projects as these 10 new housing units in Feakle are a step in the right direction. The announcement of these 10 new housing units follows on from the announcement last year of 10 new housing units for Sea View Park Quilty and 15 units at Tullyglass Shannon,” he added.
“Having a warm, dry and secure place to live is one of life’s essential needs, and while there is no easy solution to the current housing need, we must continue to work hard and effectively to provide homes for all of our citizens.”
His party colleague Joe Carey also welcomed the announcement. “There is an established need for local authority housing in Feakle and I am confident that the ten houses will help keep local families in the heart of their community. This is in line with the Government’s ‘Rebuilding Ireland’ housing strategy to reverse the years of reduced investment following the economic crash,” he said.
“It is important that the benefits are felt across the country and not just in the bigger population centres. For that reason, I am delighted that Feakle is among the first to benefit from the new strategy” Carey concluded.