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30 percent cut to maintenance funding for County social housing
The repair and upkeep of social housing in the county is set to become a real challenge as the Council deals with a 30 percent cut to its maintenance allocation this year.
A meeting of the local authority heard last evening that the budget for 2013 stands at 1.25million euro – that’s a reduction of 375 thousand euro on last year’s figure.
There are over 19 hundred social housing units in the county, and around 188 of these are vacant.
Director of Services with responsibility for Housing, Eugene Cummins, told councillors that 40 are undergoing works, up to 20 are awaiting inspections and 50 are in areas difficult to let.
However, he added that in the coming months the Council hopes to take on an additional 2 technicians.
Speaking to Galway Bay fm News, Cllr Sean Canney says vacant houses need to be re-furbished to help save exchequer money.