Michael Healy-Rae of the Rural Independent TD group has asked the Government to provide more resources to Kerry County Council to provide social housing.
He said that 159 housing units were built by the Council between 2017-2020 and that plans to deliver 278 units are in place for 2021 to 2022.
Mr Healy-Rae said that 2,183 people are on the social housing list in Kerry as of November 2020 with over 80% of them awaiting one and two bed-roomed housing.
He said that Kerry County Council can do "a lot more" if even more resources were available to build or buy units for social housing.
"In Kerry we need housing, we want it," Mr Healy-Rae said.
Taoiseach @MichealMartinTD has agreed with Independent TD Michael Healy-Rae that housing waiting lists are too long, saying the Government is open to engagement with local authorities on housing initiatives | Read more political coverage: https://t.co/5JxBBj9O72 pic.twitter.com/VMJj9opZxK
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) February 17, 2021
In response, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said that the Government is open to increasing the provision of social housing across the country and that targets set are just targets, not a cap.
He said that the Government has a target for this year of 255 direct build and 70 leases in Co Kerry, but if the Council can do more he will discuss it with the Minister for Housing.
"There is a big budget for housing this year and we will be responsive to you," Mr Martin said.
He said that the housing lists are too long and too many people are waiting too long for social and private housing, a situation that has been compounded by the pandemic.
