Affordable Housing

• 10 houses were sold as affordable at Parcnagowan, Waterford Road , Kilkenny.
• A total of €1,127,000 was advanced for loans on these houses.

 

Community Development / Tennant Participation

• Refurbishment work at Newpark Close including external cleaning works at Newpark Resource Centre and painting of boundary wall facing onto green area.
• Annual clean up of some local authority estates which included provision of bin tags, black sacks, paper pickers and bulky waste collection.
• Pre-development work with the Travelling Community in relation to recycling.
• Pre-Tenancy Course held with all new tenants of Council dwellings before occupation.
• Ongoing consultation with Residents Associations.
• Assistance provided for official opening of playground at Garringreen.

 

Grants

• 47 Disabled Persons Grants were paid out to disabled persons to assist them in undertaking necessary renovation works. Total Expenditure: €571,000.
• 15 Essential Repairs Grants were paid to elderly persons to assist them with essential repairs to their dwelling: Total Expenditure €42,600.

 

Homeless Assistance

• A total of €273,468.95 was expended on accommodation for homeless persons.
• Funding was provided to;
  • The Good Shepherd Centre which provides accommodation for homeless men.
  • The Women's Refuge Centre for support and accommodation to women and children rendered homeless as a result of domestic violence.

 

Housing and Accommodation

Kilkenny County Council adopts a pro-active and flexible approach in meeting the challenge of providing accommodation for those in need and assisting others who can afford it, to obtain their own accommodation.

Kilkenny County Council actively promotes all schemes available in the interest of providing housing accommodation to its customers.

 

Housing Construction / Acquistion Programme

• 36 New houses were completed and allocated at: Glenmore (10), Bennettsbridge (10), Moneenroe (8), Johnstown (4), Freshford (2) and Rurals (2).
• 104 houses (part of the Housing Construction Programme and Part V) were under construction at 31 st December 2005 .
• There were 39 casual vacancies during 2005.
• Kilkenny County Council purchased properties on the open market for allocation - 10 sales were finalised at end of 2005. These properties are all occupied.
• 2 rural cottages were constructed and allocated to families on housing waiting list.
• Renovation works were undertaken on 1 private dwelling under the Improvement Works in Lieu of Housing Scheme (Florence Terrace).
• 2 local authority houses were extended under the Extensions Programme (Dangan Terrace & Sheepstown).

 

Housing Loans

• 17 Shared Ownership loans and 6 annuity loans were paid in 2005.
• 8 house improvement loans were paid out in 2005.
• 11 tenants purchased their homes under the Tenant Purchase Scheme with 5 availing of loans from Kilkenny County Council.
• A total of €3,160,000 was paid out on housing loans.

 

Private Rented Sector

Under the new Residential Tenancies Act 2004 Registration of tenancies in private rented accommodation is now being operated by the Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB). All Landlords must register each tenant in their respective rented accommodation at a cost of €70 per tenancy - renewable only if there is a change of tenant.

Kilkenny County Council will continue to have responsibility for the enforcement of the Regulations under the Housing Acts relating to rent books and standards of private rental accommodation.

Kilkenny County Council recouped €5,291 from the Department of Environment for 2005 and recoupment in the future will be based on the number of registrations with the PRTB relating to the Council functional area.

 

Voluntary Housing Scheme

• 4 projects were completed under The Capital Assistance Scheme, consisting of; 14 units at St. Mary's Kilkenny, 8 units at Good Shepherd Centre Kilkenny, 5 units in Hugginstown, and 2 units in Ferrybank.
• 1 project is under construction at Callan and a further 2 projects received approval to proceed at Ballyhale and Moneenroe.
• Total expenditure in 2005 was €2,400,000.

 

Housing Highlights

• 87 new families were housed by Kilkenny County Council.
• 46 housing loans were advanced in 2005 which included home improvement loans.
• 62 housing grants were paid in 2005.

 

Houses Constructed at Ard Aoibheann, Inistioge