New social housing project for Mullingar


Preparations are underway for the construction of the biggest social housing project in Mullingar for years.

Westmeath County Council, in partnership with housing body Tuath, has received approval for 34 units on a canalside site at Springfield.

The development, which is at the preplanning stage, will largely comprise one and two bed units with a small number of three bed town houses.

Almost €750,000 in funding for six of the units has been allocated from a new government fund to provide accommodation for people with special needs including the elderly.

According to council’s housing officer Roibeard O'Ceallaigh, the fact that the majority of the units in the development will be one and two bed reflects the fact that 45% of the more than 3,000 people currently on the housing waiting list are single.

The council’s housing department received a further boost last week when it was announced that it is to receive €220,000 to make repairs to 30 vacant local authority housing units, 13 of which are in Mullingar. This funding is part of a €15m tranche from the department of environment to bring 2,000 vacant local authority houses across the country back into “beneficial use”, said Mr O'Ceallaigh.

The council’s allocation per unit is €8,462 - one of the lowest in the country and less than a third of the €30,000 per unit received by Wexford County Council. Westmeath's allocation per unit is modest, Mr O'Ceallaigh says, due to the council's “proactive approach” when it comes to repairing vacant houses.

“The only houses left derelict are those identified for demolition,” he said.
Mr O'Ceallaigh added that the council has between 60 and 90 casual vacancies in its 1,200 housing stock each year.