Kilkenny Local Authorities adopts a pro-active and flexible approach in meeting the challenges of providing accommodation for those in need and assisting other who can afford it, by obtaining their own accommodation.

Kilkenny Local Authorities actively promotes all housing schemes available in the interest of providing housing accommodation, social integration and putting in place measures to sustain communities.

 

Affordable Housing

Fifteen houses were sold as Affordable units throughout the County at the following locations:

Callan	2
Ferrybank	3
Kilkenny City (The Weir, Margaretsfield & Glenbaun)	5
Mooncoin	1
Thomastown	4

A total of €1,827,800 was paid out on 12 Affordable Housing Loans.

 

Capital Investment Programme

An allocation of €17.5 million was received from the Department in 2009. This allocation was provided to Kilkenny County Council and Kilkenny Borough Council for the provision of Social Housing.

22 New houses were completed by Kilkenny Local Authorities at: Fr Albert Place, Kilkenny City (12), Ossory Park, Kilkenny City (8) and Turfmarket, Graiguenamanagh (2)

 

Houses at Fr. Albert Place.

 

91 New houses/apartments were provided through Part V/Purchases at:

Ballyragget	1
Callan	2
Castlecomer	3
Ferrybank	4
Graiguenamanagh	18
Kilkenny	38
Mooncoin	3
Thomastown	22

There were 94 casual vacancies during 2009

Approx 88 Houses are under construction at 31/12/2009 through the local authority's own construction programme and Part V developments.

 

Estate Management & Community Development

• Liaison with Community Committees delivery of training and increase of committees to 73.
• Promotion of affiliation to Community and Voluntary Forum and Group Insurance Scheme.
• €129,000 approximately allocated to estate management grant funding, supply of gardening equipment, landscaping projects, plants and gardening materials, minor refurbishment on estates, installation of fencing.
• Participation by 5 Estate cluster groups from Graiguenamanagh in National Pride of Place Competition.
• Development of Community Gardens at Newpark Close and Hebron Park to provide training in conjunction with County Kilkenny Leader Partnership.
• Hebron Park Community House - The Happe House opened in April 2009, offering a varied number of supports to the community - mother/toddler group, information service, drug counselling etc.
• Sustainable Communities Fund scheme expenditure of €47,861 - Pre-Development support for residents at St. Catherine's Halting Site, Wetlands and Equality and Diversity training and seminars for staff of City and County Council.

Hebron Park Community House

 

Homeless Assistance

Kilkenny Homeless Action Team (KHAT), an interagency team comprising of statutory and non-governmental agency representatives meets weekly to discuss and agree service provision to homeless persons presenting to any of the participating organizations. The representative agencies are: Kilkenny Local Authorities; HSE South Kilkenny Womens Refuge; Good Shepherd Centre and Focus Ireland.

The new National Homeless Strategy - The Way Home: A Strategy to Address Adult Homelessness in Ireland 2008-2013 published in 2008 has provided the framework in relation to policy and service development. "An implementation Plan - Priority Actions" document was received in 2009. The Housing Act, 2009 places a statutory obligation on local authorities to have a Homeless Action Plan in place This will be on a regional basis and Waterford City has been designated as the lead authority for the South East. The Regional Homeless Forum will provide an Action Plan for adoption in 2010 by all participating local authorities.

 

Housing Adaptation Grants

Seven (7) Disabled Person Grants were paid out to disabled people to assist them in undertaking necessary renovation works to meet their needs in their homes. Total expenditure was €107,942 - This Scheme is now closed.

Two (2) Essential Repair Grants were paid to elderly people to assist them with essential repairs in their homes. Total expenditure was €6,400. This Scheme is now closed.

Nine (9) Mobility Aids Grants were paid out in 2009 to assist people with stairlifts and minor bathroom modifications. Total expenditure was €40,025.

Thirty three (33) Housing Aid for the Elderly grants were paid out to assist people with emergency roof repairs and electrical works. Total expenditure was €223,288.

Thirty six (36) Housing Adaptation Grants were paid out in 2009 to assist people with adaptations and extensions to their properties. Total expenditure was €590,947.

Three (3) new house grants were paid in 2009 to assist families who were building new houses to suit the needs of a disabled person. Total expenditure was €39,900.

 

Housing Loans

1 Home Choice Loan was paid out in 2009.

2 Shared Ownership loans and 2 Annuity loans were paid out in 2009.

2 House Improvement loan was paid out in 2009.

A total of €855,450 was paid out on Housing Loans.

 

Housing Support Services

Kilkenny Local Authorities engages the services of Focus Ireland to provide an Outreach/Tenancy Sustainment service. This service will be provided to clients leaving the Homeless services and moving to independent living. It will also be available to tenants who are at risk of losing their tenancy due to a number of reasons. The service is 90% funded by the Department of Environment Heritage and Local Government. The service continued throughout 2009.

 

Private Rented Sector

Under the Private 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.

Kilkenny County Council has responsibility for the enforcement of the Regulations under the Housing Acts relating to rent books and standards of private rented accommodation. The Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations, 2008, came into effect on 1^st February, 2009. The Council carried out 141 inspections on private rented accommodation during 2009.

Kilkenny County Council administers the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS). This scheme applies to people who are in receipt of rent supplement usually for more that 18 months and who are in need of long term housing. The Council assessed 172 people for the Scheme in 2009 and transferred 106 tenancies to RAS during 2009.

Long Term Leasing Initiative was introduced by the Government during 2009. This initiative will provide accommodation for approved social applicants from the private sector. Housing units will be leased for a maximum period of 20 years from Developers or individuals by the Local Authority or Voluntary Housing Association. The responsibility for the appointment of tenants and for management of the units will the local authority's or the Housing Association.

 

Travellers

The Annual Count of Traveller Families was carried out on 27^th November 2009. The total number of Traveller families in the functional area of Kilkenny Local Authorities is 137. There has been an increase of 33% in the number of traveller families living in Co. Kilkenny since 2004, and a significant number of families living in the private rented sector.

11 offers of local authority accommodation were made during 2009 and only 4 families accepted the accommodation.

The Traveller Accommodation Programme 2009-2013 was adopted by Kilkenny County Council and Kilkenny Borough Council in the first quarter of 2009. The Programme outlined the key strategies for the provision of accommodation over the next 5 years within the County. Standard housing continues to be the preferred option for many young traveller families. Support is provided in the transition to permanent accommodation.

Kilkenny Local Authorities continue to support a number of additional services to the Traveller Community, and in 2009 we continued to improve facilities at St. Catherine's Halting Site such as the refurbishment of the service units on the individual bays; the afterschools/creche facility and the provision of a designated play area for the pre-school children.

 

Voluntary Housing Scheme

Thirteen units of accommodation were completed in 2009 by Voluntary Housing Associations at Danesfort - (6) and Kilkenny City - S.O.S. (7).

Image shows Voluntary Housing at St. Fiacre's Place, Kilkenny

 

Housing Highlights

• 220 units of accommodation were provided by Kilkenny Local Authorities for social housing applicants.
• 17 Housing loans were advanced in 2009.
• 90 Housing grants were paid in 2009.