Affordable housing plan in the pipeline for Limerick area

AFFORDABLE houses could be on the cards for Knocklong - there are currently no affordable housing schemes in the Cappamore-Kilmallock Municipal District area.

The proposal is for an old commercial building to be converted into housing.

It would make up four affordable homes.

These would be a mixture of three and four bed houses, along with a single unit.

The councillors at this month's municipal district meeting heard that there would be an air to water heating system and BER ratings up to A3.

Subject to funding and approval, the scheme would be launched in September with the houses potentially ranging in price from €220,000 to €250,000.

The council’s housing department are hoping to submit an application by the end of July. The councillors were told that the affordable housing price must be 15% below market asking prices.

Generally, this would mean a maximum total household annual income of €75,000, but this can change depending on the scheme, what is available and who applies.

Overall, the Cappamore-Kilmallock district has a target of building 203 housing units by December 2026. Up until April 16, 2024, there were 227 approved building units with the area exceeding targets so far.

Elderly housing in St Paul’s Convent in Kilfinane is due to be finished by November, while housing in Doon convent is due to start.

Across all of Limerick City and County Council, there were 629 notices to quit, and 52 of those were in the Cappamore-Kilmallock area.

Cllr Gerald Mitchell said: “We are not building fast enough, we need to start changing policies.”