Lack of council housing in north Offaly highlighted

Edenderry-based councillor Noel Bourke has this week revealed his serious concern about the lack of council houses in the north Offaly area. Cllr Bourke said the number on the council's housing waiting list in the Edenderry area is increasing, but only a "very small number" of council houses are becoming available. The councillor said that with no funding for building or buying houses provided to Offaly County Council in recent years a major initiative is needed from government to make an impact on the number of people who require housing. "I am particularly concerned about the numbers on the list in the Edenderry electoral area and I have been asking the council to make a special case to the department for funding to either build or buy houses," Cllr Bourke said this week. He said he's aware that many people are living in unsatisfactory accommodation, but that he will be doing all he can to improve their circumstances. "This can only be done if the funding is provided to the council by the department," he said however.