Latest news with #SharonRyan
Irish Independent
3 days ago
- Politics
- Irish Independent
Another vacant creche in Wexford estate as questions are asked of council – ‘What are the legalities of this?'
'Those homes have never been lived in and the creche has never been used,' she said. 'It's my understanding that it's a requirement for the developers to provide this essential service for the community. But the creche wasn't utilised, instead it's left there while we have serious childcare issues across the district. "What are the legalities of this? What can we do as a local authority?' Accepting that there are 'a number' of creches in estates across the county which haven't been developed, housing officer Sharon Ryan said there were 'conditions attached' to planning applications but that she would have to return at the next meeting with further details. Separately, Cllr O'Brien returned to an assertion recently made by chief executive of Wexford County Council (WCC) Eddie Taaffe that the council is currently exceeding its housing targets. 'There's only 12 houses listed in our monthly report in this district, and there's only been six properties advertised on choice-based letting (CBL) in the RMD this year, how can we be exceeding our housing targets?' she asked. 'That's nowhere near ambitious enough to meet the demand that's out there. Could we propose a motion from the RMD that we get our fair share of housing delivery here because we're not exceeding our targets in this district anyway.' After Ms Ryan stated that a further 55 properties in the RMD were due to be made available via approved housing bodies (AHB), Angela Finn of housing capital said that, despite appearances, the Rosslare district would meet its targets under the Housing For All scheme. 'We've already delivered 35 in Rosetown, but because it's a five-year plan and the targets were set a long time ago they are coming in slowly – a lot of them were before your time,' she said to Cllr O'Brien, who was elected last year. 'The numbers allocated to RMD haven't quite been met yet but there's two years to go and we will get there.' Ms Finn also provided Cllr Frank Staples with an update regarding houses in Tagoat which she said will be available for CBL this month.
Irish Independent
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Irish Independent
No guarantees that Wexford families ineligible for housing scheme will receive offer of emergency accommodation
Following changes to the conditions of the tenant-in-situ scheme, previously eligible families across Co Wexford are now facing eviction and possible homelessness. The scheme, which allows county councils to buy rented properties from private landlords so that tenants can continue to live there, was altered at the beginning of the year with the criteria for eligibility tightened. As a result, many of those previously awaiting confirmation of their acceptance onto the scheme are now ineligible and no longer qualify for this support. And in a further blow, it has been confirmed that some of these families will not receive any support from Wexford County Council (WCC) if and when they are evicted. Speaking at the April meeting of the Rosslare Municipal District (RMD) Councillor Aoife Rose O'Brien said she had been 'devastated' to learn that the council will not even provide emergency accommodation for some of those no longer eligible for the tenant-in-situ scheme. 'I have contacted one of the council officials and was extremely disappointed with one of the answers to my questions; it was confirmed to me that only in some cases will an ineligible tenant receive an offer of emergency accommodation or be offered any further supports,' said the Sinn Féin councillor. 'These tenants have been in limbo for eight months now, in some cases they're still awaiting a response (to their tenant-in-situ applications) on whether they're eligible and the purchase will go ahead. I appreciate this is not the fault of the council, this is down to the exiting government, but we have to honour the people who were waiting, whose landlords had been told the tenant would be able to purchase further down the line. "They're facing eviction now, as a local authority we need to address this and find a proper solution for those families.' Housing officer Sharon Ryan said WCC tried to 'accommodate people who haven't been approved under tenant-in-situ scheme' and that anyone who is on the social housing list was eligible for supports like Housing Assistance Payments (HAP) or the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS). 'I'm surprised you were told there would be no homeless services available,' she continued, 'the only instance I can think of (where this would happen) was if someone was in arrears. But even in those cases we would work with those people.' In an email seen by The Wexford People, a county council official responded to Cllr O'Brien's concerns regarding those now deemed ineligible for the tenant-in-situ scheme. "As in all cases where a household is facing homelessness, the Homeless Services and Support Unit will work with them to identify options and offer supports, which includes access to emergency accommodation in some cases,' the email reads. 'In cases where a household /property is not eligible for acquisition, we provide landlords alternative options for consideration including HAP and RAS. 'The households that are currently ineligible will likely not receive an offer of full social housing at this time due to many other households having longer time on the list.'
