An increase in social housing will reduce numbers claiming Rent Allowance – Bannon

With more social housing on the way across the country, Fine Gael Longford/ Westmeath TD, James Bannon today (Wednesday) highlighted the need to provide more people with housing and reduce the numbers claiming rent allowance.

“Over 1,500 people are claiming rent allowance in Co. Westmeath and 500 are in receipt of the benefit in Co. Longford. This is too many and we need to provide these people with an alternative.

“It is good news that €68 million has been allocated to the Local Authority Construction Initiative. This is the first return to new mainstream local authority house building since the beginning of the financial crisis.

“In March, a report by the Irish Examiner revealed Longford as the cheapest county in which to buy property. The area has suffered severely during the recession and is in great need of all the provisions recently introduced.

“In addition to the €68 million allocated for local housing, €15 million will be used to bring vacant local authority housing back into use and a €10 million fund is in place to kick start the resolution on the remaining unfinished housing developments.

“Last year a total of €372 million was spent on rent allowance. Every effort is being made to reduce this figure and providing housing for those in need is the most important step in making this change. Increased social housing will not only provide new or better housing for people, it will also create and sustain hundreds of jobs in the construction and green energy sectors.”