10 May 2017
By Bryan T. Smyth
bryan@TheCork.ie
Peter Horgan (Labour)
Labour Local Area Representative [*1] for Cork City South East, Peter Horgan, has called for more support for first time buyers looking to secure a house in Cork.
“When we hear news of more mortgages being approved than there are houses being built, we have to be concerned,” said Mr Horgan.
“The Government decided to look after the mansions in Dublin rather than the communities in Cork through the Buyer’s grant. The problem being that the houses are not being built for first time buyers to use the grant on. the grant should be extended to include second and third hand houses which may have fallen into disrepair and need a boost to restore the properties to habitable conditions.”
Mr Horgan was speaking in advance of the Labour Party public meeting on housing on Monday 15th May in the Imperial Hotel at 7pm, where Party spokesperson on Housing, Jan O’Sullivan TD will speak on the issue.
“There are nearly 200,000 empty houses around the country and, at the same time, thousands of families and individuals without a home,” said Deputy O’Sullivan.
“Last Autumn, on behalf of the Labour Party, I proposed 8 practical actions to bring vacant houses back into use, The Government needs to act to provide homes rather than bombard us with endless announcements.”
[1] * In Irish political parties a ‘Local Area Representative’ is a person who is not a Councillor or TD, but who a party may put forward in a future election
