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

8 dwellings at Goresbridge	4 Houses at Hillview, Bennetsbridge
Infill development of 8 houses at Piltown	Infill development

 

 

Affordable Housing

St. Kierans Crescent, Kilkenny.

• The remaining houses in Phases 1 & 2 were sold.
• Phase 3 consisting of 28 houses (2 & 3 bed) was completed. House prices started at €90,151.
• Phase 4 consisting of 19 houses commenced in 2002. House prices started at €113,000 for mid-terraced and €117,500 for end terrace.
• A further Affordable Housing Scheme is due to commence in Graiguenamanagh in 2003.

 

Community Development / Tenant Participation

• Work continued in Castlecomer with the residents of Church Avenue, Kilkenny Road, Hillside View and Maryville residents to develop a landscaping and grass cutting project.
• The residents of Comeragh View, Mooncoin and Shamrock Grove, Kilmacow were assisted in the upkeep of their grounds. 10 other local authority estates were provided with tags/bags to facilitate clean ups. The residents of Suir Crescent, Mooncoin were assisted with a lawn mower.
• Landscaping and cleaning works were carried out with residents of Newtown Terrace, Thomastown and also Newpark Close and Hebron Park, Kilkenny.
• Residents of Brandon Park and Woodland Estate, Graignamanagh were assisted with flower bedding initiative. A further 8 estates were assisted with tree planting.
• The Travelling Community were assisted with a development work initiative.
• The residents of Bishop Birch Place were assisted with further community development training.
• The residents of Hebron Park were allocated a Community house which is managed and used by the Residents Management Committee.

 

Housing Loans

• In 2002, 63 Shared Ownership loans and 22 annuity loans were paid.
• A total of 16 house improvement loans were paid out during 2002 and 38 tenants purchased their homes under the Tenant Purchase Scheme with loans from Kilkenny County Council.
• A total of €10 million expenditure was incurred on loans of which €1.9 million was in respect of affordable housing.

 

Grants

• Disabled Persons Grants totalling € 664,600 were paid out to disabled persons to assist them in undertaking necessary renovation works.
• 43 essential repairs grants totalling € 94,100 were paid to elderly persons to assist them with essential repairs to their dwellings.

 

Homeless Assistance

• A total of € 273,969 was expended on accommodation for homeless persons.
• A total of € 879,038 was paid and recouped in full for the accommodation of Asylum Seekers.
• The Good Shepherd Centre which is funded by the Council provided accommodation for 152 homeless men during the year and the Womens Refuge Centre provided support and accommodation to 62 women and children rendered homeless as a result of domestic violence.

 

Housing Construction / Acquistion Programme

• Schemes were completed and allocated at: Piltown (8), Gowran (3), Skeoghvosteen (2), Castlecomer (2).
• Kilkenny County Council continued work under the Multi-Annual Programme 2000-2003 under which it had been notified of 260 starts.
• 3 houses were purchased on the open market for allocation.
• 26 houses were under construction at 31/12
• 26 rural cottages were constructed and allocated to families on the housing waiting list.
• Renovation works were undertaken on 2 private dwellings under the Improvement Works in Lieu of Housing Scheme.
• 4 local authority houses were extended under the Extensions Programme.
• There were 45 casual vacancies during 2002.

 

Housing Loans

• In 2002, 63 Shared Ownership loans and 22 annuity loans were paid.
• A total of 16 house improvement loans were paid out during 2002 and 38 tenants purchased their homes under the Tenant Purchase Scheme with loans from Kilkenny County Council.
• A total of €10 million expenditure was incurred on loans of which €1.9 million was in respect of affordable housing.

 

Private Rented Sector

• A total of 227 dwellings were registered with the Council as being privately rented and were entered in the register which is available for public inspection.
• The annual registration fee is € 50.79 and a total of € 11,661.00 was collected.

 

Service Indicators

HOUSE RENT

Amount collected at year end as a percentage of amount due

88.5%

 

% of Arrears:

1 - 3 weeks old	8.6 %
4 - 6 weeks old	12.8 %
More than 6 weeks old	78.6 %

 

HOUSE REPAYMENTS

Amount collected at year end as a percentage of amount due

92%

 

% of Arrears:

1 month old	6 %
2 - 3 months old	23 %
More than 3 months	71%

 

EMPTY DWELLINGS

The Percentage of dwellings that are empty at 31/12/02

a) Available for letting or awaiting minor repairs: NIL
b) Others 1.29%

Average time taken to relet dwellings for letting or awaiting minor repairs - 22 days

 

Voluntary Housing Scheme

• 2 projects consisting of 15 units of accommodation for the disabled were completed at Richview, Kilkenny and Camphill, Callan, Co. Kilkenny. Total expenditure incurred in 2002 for this sector was €1,700,000 (including projects under construction in 2002).
• A scheme of 18 family type units by Cluid Voluntary Housing Association commenced in Callan.

 

Housing Highlights

• 331 families assisted in obtaining suitable housing accommodation.
• 141 housing loans totalling £8 million (€10.15million) advanced.
• 108 housing grants totalling £629,000 (€798,665) paid.
• 6 travelling families housed.