Kildare affordable housing scheme is lambasted

The affordable housing scheme has been criticised  in the wake of the launch of a new housing development.

The scheme was launched to help eligible people to buy a new home at a reduced price and a development of eight homes was unveiled recently by Kildare County Council at Lattin Place, Rathasker Road in Naas.

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The homes are expected to be ready for occupation by autumn 2025. The online application will remain open until 5.30pm on Friday June 20 2025.

However, Naas councillor Bill Clear said he is “extremely frustrated” with the scheme.

“The homes are priced above the maximum amount that buyers are allowed to borrow under the State-backed local authority home loan scheme,” he said.

He added: "This is another fiasco by the Department of Housing which administers both schemes. You honestly couldn’t make this up.”

He said the scheme needs to be reformed urgently.

“These are hard working people who have already been refused mortgages by the very banks we bailed out and now the government is letting them down again,” added Cllr Clear.

The minimum sale price for a two bedroom end of mid-terrace home and a three bedroom mid-terrace home in the development is €295,000 and €365,000 respectively. An end-terrace three bed house is €370,000.