A Clare TD is calling on the government to urgently recognise contradictory housing policies in this county.
It comes as new data shows that just one household in Clare has been able to purchase a property so far under the First Home Scheme.
The scheme works on a shared equity basis and sees the state provide a maximum stake of 30% to assist households with the cost of building or buying a new dwelling with the overall idea to help tenants escape the ‘rental trap’.
However since the inception of the scheme last year, just sixteen households in Clare have been eligible and of them, only one household has been able to purchase a property under the initiative so far.
In an effort to increase uptake, the government has this week extended the initiative to include self-build units.
However Clare’s price ceiling for eligible properties is currently within the lowest bracket in the country at €325,000 and Ennis Auctioneer, Diarmuid McMahon believes the scheme must be lucrative for developers to truly make a difference.
With TD’s returning to Dáil Eireann today and budget 2024 set to be unveiled on October 10th, A Clare representative is calling on the government to urgently introduce measures to mitigate costs facing the building industry.
Scariff Deputy Michael McNamara says current policies are forcing an ever growing number of family units in this county on to social housing lists.
You can listen to the full interview below.
