Kildare families have allegedly been ‘ignored again’ in latest housing funding announcement

A local representative has alleged that families in County Kildare have been "ignored again" in the government's latest housing funding announcement.

Social Democrats councillor Chris Pender has criticised the government’s decision to exclude Kildare from the latest €50 million in targeted housing acquisitions funding, which was announced by Minister for Housing James Browne TD.

While welcoming efforts to support families trapped in emergency accommodation, Cllr Pender claimed that the announcement highlights "how counties like Kildare continue to be left behind".

He added: "This €50 million is being directed at just eight councils, with not a cent coming to Kildare, yet we know families here in Newbridge, Naas, Kildare town and across the county are spending months and years in hotels and B&Bs.

"Children growing up in Kildare emergency accommodation deserve the same priority as those in Dublin, but this announcement ignores them."

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Cllr Pender also noted that the new funding allocations, as reported by KFM, show that all of the money will be channelled to major cities and Dublin local authorities.

"Homelessness is not just a Dublin issue; families in commuter counties like ours are under enormous pressure from soaring rents, a lack of affordable homes, and growing reliance on emergency accommodation," he said. "By directing this entire fund away from counties like Kildare, the government is creating a two-tier response to homelessness."

He also warned about what he views as an "over-reliance" on acquisitions as a policy tool: "Buying up second-hand homes may provide short-term relief, but it does not solve the core problem: the lack of new social and affordable housing being built here in Kildare.

"Worse still, it puts councils in direct competition with working families who are already priced out of the market."

He concluded: "If the government is serious about ending child homelessness, it cannot continue to ignore counties like Kildare; families here need fair funding, faster delivery of Tenant-in-Situ purchases, and a long-term plan to build the homes our communities urgently need."

The Department of Housing has been contacted for comment in relation to Cllr Pender's statements.

Cllr Pender made headlines earlier this month when he expressed solidarity with striking school secretaries and caretakers.

Social Democrats Cllr Chris Pender. Photograph supplied by Cllr Pender.

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