Kilkenny Council given more power and money to speed up social housing projects

Kilkenny County Council has been given more authority and increased funding to speed up badly needed local social housing projects.

It comes after the Cabinet agreed to increase local authority discretionary funding for social housing schemes from €2 million to €6 million.

The measure was one of the key commitments contained in the Programme for Government.

Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien said the move will give greater autonomy to local authorities and speed up social housing projects.

The minister said: “This single stage approvals process strikes a balance between appropriate oversight and the need to deliver on a core Government policy of local authorities building more social housing at greater pace.

“By streamlining the approvals process further, the pre-construction programme can be shortened thus accelerating the delivery of much needed social housing construction projects.

Minister O’Brien added: “The Department will work with local authorities in relation to the new process and detailed guidance will be provided to ensure the accelerated delivery of quality homes consistent with the principles of value for money and cost certainty.”