Sligo council ‘not adequately funded' to buy second hand homes
He also stated that the €3 million allocated to County Sligo was already committed for the purchase, fees and costs of refurbishment works committed to under the programme in 2024.
'In fact, the €3 million allocation is not adequate to cover the cost of the commitments we entered into last year.
"Sligo's current commitment is €3,111,135. So not only have we no funding to address social housing needs as part of the Second Hand Social Housing acquisitions programme for 2025, that fact is that the €3 million we have been allocated is insufficient to allow us complete commitments which the Department of Housing actually approved in 2024.
"This Council has also been told by the Department that, other that the €3 million allocated to us, no further funding will be made available to Sligo this year.
'I have to say that I find this shocking and unacceptable, particularly given the fact that we are in the midst of a housing crisis,' Cllr Bree told the monthly meeting of the council.
He outlined how In March the Government and Minister for Housing announced €325 million in funding to address social housing needs as part of the Second Hand Social Housing acquisitions programme for 2025.
'The Minister said the 2025 second-hand acquisitions programme would facilitate the purchase of second-hand homes for Tenant-in-Situ Acquisitions. Families with children, older people or those with disabilities were to be prioritised under the tenant-in-situ scheme, however no household was excluded we were told.
'The Minister said local authorities could target the funding and he said the government was committed to the second-hand acquisitions programme and tenant-in-situ acquisition stream given its important role in the prevention of homelessness.
"Government TDs in this constituency said they were delighted to see the tenant in situ scheme so well-funded for 2025. They said it would provide opportunities for long term renters to stay in their home with the local authority as their landlord for the long term.
"Everyone in this chamber is aware that the crisis is causing huge distress, anxiety and despair to people here in Sligo and in communities across the country. The tenant-in-situ programme helped to alleviate the stress for a number of households in recent years.
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"However, Sligo County Council can no longer implement the scheme as the Government is not providing the necessary funding.
"I am therefore appealing to the government supporters in this Council and more so to the three Government TDs in this constituency to make the necessary representations to the government and Minister for Housing so as to ensure that adequate funding is provided this year to allow this Council to fulfil its obligations under the Second Hand Social Housing acquisitions programme for 2025.
A motion from Cllr Bree calling on the Minister and the Government to increase the funding allocation to Sligo County Council as a matter of urgency so as to allow it to acquire second hand houses for priority cases including people with a disability and older persons requiring urgent housing responses was unanimously adopted.
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