Affordable Housing

• 4 houses were sold as affordable at Brandon Crescent, Graignamanagh.

 

Community Development / Tennant Participation

• Provision of strimmer to Emerald Gardens, Urlingford and provision of a petrol lawnmower to Assumption Place, Urlingford.
• Provision of new ride on lawnmower to Comeragh View, Mooncoin.
• Landscaping grant provided to Woodland Estate & Brandon Park Graignamanagh.
• Annual clean up of five local authority estates which included provision of bin tags, black sacks and paper pickers.
• Financial contribution towards the cost of pre-development worker with the Travelling Community.
• Grant towards Christmas youth project in Bishop Birch Place.
• Pre-Tenancy Course held with all new tenants of Council dwellings before occupation.

 

Grants

• 54 Disabled Persons Grants were paid out to disabled persons to assist them in undertaking necessary renovation works. Total Expenditure: € 605,300
• 25 essential repairs grants were paid to elderly persons to assist them with essential repairs to their dwelling. Total Expenditure: € 59,600.

 

Homeless Assistance

A total of €274,218 was expended on accommodation for homeless persons
Funding was provided to:

• The Good Shepherd Centre which provides accommodation for homeless men.
• The Womens 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 it's customers.

 

Housing Construction / Acquistion Programme

• 37 New houses were completed and allocated at: Urlingford (10), Graignamanagh (9), Inistioge (8), Piltown (7), Thomastown (3) and Cloghabrody (3).
• 66 houses (part of the Housing Construction Programme) were under construction at 31st December, 2004 and there were also contracts to purchase 6 houses to be completed.
• There was 40 casual vacancies during 2004.
• Kilkenny County Council obtained six units of accommodation at Malfield, Thomastown under Part V of the Planning & Development Act. These six units are all occupied.
• Kilkenny County Council purchased properties on the open market for allocation - 10 sales were finalised at end of 2004. These ten properties are all occupied.
• 6 Rural cottages were constructed and allocated to families on the housing waiting list.
• Renovation works were undertaken on 1 private dwelling under the Improvement Works in Lieu of Housing Scheme.
• 2 local authority houses were extended under the Extensions Programme.

 

Housing Loans

• Shared Ownership loans and 6 annuity loans were paid.
• 10 house improvement loans were paid out during 2004.
• 14 tenants purchased their homes under the Tenant Purchase Scheme with loans from Kilkenny County Council.
• A total of €2 million expenditure was incurred in loans of which € 448,300 was in respect of affordable housing.

 

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 €5,104 from the Department of Environment for 2004 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

• 2 projects were completed under The Capital Assistance Scheme, consisting of 9 units for the disabled at Jerpoint & 6 units for the elderly at Thomastown.
• A further 3 projects are under construction at Hugginstown, Good Shepherd Centre, Kilkenny and St. Mary's Parish Homes for the Elderly, Kilkenny.
• Total expenditure in 2004 was € 2,700,000.

 

Housing Highlights

• 100 new families were housed by Kilkenny County Council which includes 4 traveller families.
• 40 housing loans were advanced in 2004 which included home improvement loans.
• 79 housing grants were paid in 2004.

Houses Constructed at Ard Aoibheann, Inistioge

Houses Constructed at Mount Finn Drive, Urlingford