Wexford County Council "Exceeding" Housing Targets Right Now - CEO

Wexford County Council expects it will deliver around 500 affordable homes over the next few years.

That's according to the Chief Executive Eddie Taaffe who says his team continue to exceed their targets when it comes to housing.

A number of housing related projects also got the green light over the summer which will allow the council to get working on estates across the county.

Mr Taaffe says they are working hard to build much needed homes:

"We will deliver about another 300 social houses this year between ourselves and the Approved Housing Bodies but we have a very strong affordable housing programme as well.

"There's a number of projects in Gorey, Wexford and Enniscorthy and we're continually launching those new schemes.

"We have a pipeline of about 500 affordable houses which is already underway and will be delivered over the next couple of years."

County Councillors are set to discuss a variation to the County Development Plan at the first council meeting of the new term on Monday.

If passed, this would change zoning procedures around Kilrane, Rosslare and Bunclody to allow for more housing developments.

A previous variation was accepted for lands in Enniscorthy and New Ross while a third variation could see more houses in Wexford Town.

Meanwhile, Mr Taaffe says they have unlocked lands which will enable them to build more houses.

Funding has been secured from the Department of Housing which will allow council officals to get started on infrastructure projects that will open up even more building opportunities:

"We've been very successful in securing funding for projects like the St Wallerans Inner Relief Road in Gorey, the Ballynagee Road here in Wexford Town, a road around the Moyne area to link up new development plans in the Western part of Enniscorthy.

"These projects will allow us to unlock further lands for housing development."

That report was funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.