Fears that buyers from ‘surrounding counties' will come to Wexford for new affordable housing scheme
However, at the June meeting of WCC Sinn Féin councillor Tom Forde raised concerns about outside buyers coming to Wexford to purchase these properties.
'People who are newly resident in Wexford are entitled to apply for those and I'm wondering if we can set some form of limit on it, whether it be two years or three years, to prevent people coming in from surrounding counties,' he said. 'It would be great if we could prioritise those who are living long-term in the county. Is there a minimum time period where someone has to be resident in Wexford?'
After chief executive Eddie Taaffe advised that the properties would be sold on a 'first come, first served' basis, director of services Carolyne Godkin said such a system would prevent people originally from the county from returning home, adding that the biggest challenge for buyers was 'being mortgage ready' prior to purchase.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Independent
2 hours ago
- Irish Independent
Revealed: How vast majority of public supports long-delayed new mandatory pension scheme
The new auto-enrolment pension, called My Future Fund, is due to begin from January after more than two decades of promises to launch such a scheme. Now a survey has found that over eight in 10 Irish adults believe it is fair to automatically sign workers up for the new pension scheme. The findings came in a survey of 1,000 adults nationwide by Ask Acorn, a national network of financial intermediaries. Under auto-enrolment, workers aged between 23 and 60 who earn more than €20,000 and are not already in an occupational pension scheme would automatically be enrolled in the new pension plan. These workers will have the option to opt out after six months. However, the research suggests they are unlikely to do so. Almost nine in 10 of those eligible for auto-enrolment say they are likely to remain in the pension scheme once enrolled. Financial experts said the findings showed a strong appetite for the scheme and signalled a positive shift towards broader pension coverage. But Ask Acorn experts warned that this could lead some workers to a false sense of financial security. Ask Acorn CEO Keith Butler said: 'People who may have previously been putting off pension planning could see their auto-enrolment as a 'job done' moment, when in fact the scheme might not be the most suitable or sufficient option for their individual retirement needs.' Last week, Social Protection Minister Dara Calleary launched a national awareness campaign for My Future Fund. Mr Butler said the Government should be encouraged by the feedback from the research. ADVERTISEMENT 'Even more important than the fact that so many support the fairness of the auto-enrolment itself is the fact that so many of those eligible plan to remain in the scheme,' he said. 'If nothing else, these results should be viewed by those with responsibility for the rollout as a compelling reason to ensure there are no further delays.' The rollout of the scheme has been subjected to repeated delays over the last two decades. Mr Butler said My Future Fund would be a good fit for many, especially those who have not yet thought seriously about pensions. 'But for others, particularly those with different income levels, career paths or retirement goals, auto-enrolment could fall short of delivering the retirement they're expecting. 'Workers should absolutely be proactive in taking some advice to determine whether auto-enrolment is truly the right vehicle for their needs, or whether the rollout is just the prompt they need to take action around their financial plans for the future.' The survey, conducted by iReach, found that four in 10 Irish adults believe it is 'very fair' that workers would be automatically enrolled to the pension scheme. A further four in 10 described it as 'somewhat fair'. One in six feel the compulsory enrolment of workers to the scheme is either 'somewhat' or 'very' unfair. The youngest age cohort surveyed are the most likely to feel it is 'very unfair' to automatically sign workers up to the scheme. Mr Butler said the findings indicated there was an obvious demand and need for the scheme. One-third of Irish workers have no pension coverage outside the state pension.
Irish Examiner
7 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Charity calls for targeted measures to help financially insecure families with soaring cost of living
Irish families have been left exposed to growing financial insecurity linked to the spiralling cost of living, and targeted measures must support them in this autumn's budget, a leading charity has said. In its pre-budget submission, the Society of St Vincent de Paul (SVP) said with one-off-measures for all households now a thing of the past, it was vital to get the approach right to help families who need it most, as it expects to receive 250,000 calls for help this year. 'Poverty in a wealthy country like Ireland is a policy failure, but our next budget offers a vital opportunity to put financial certainty and dignity at the heart of Government decision-making,' SVP's head of social policy Louise Bayliss said. Rising poverty and homelessness rates should not be happening in a wealthy country with a growing economy. The charity said the core adult social protection rate must be increased by €16 a week, while increases should also be made to the Living Alone Allowance and the introduction of a weekly cost of disability payment to cover the additional costs facing people with a disability. Child income supports should also be increased, according to SVP, as current rates fall 'significantly short of what is needed". Other measures it called for included the benchmarking of third-level student grants with the cost of living, increasing the fuel allowance by €9.50 a week, and the piloting of a community energy advice service. The charity's national president Rose McGowan said the latest figures on poverty, which show around 45,000 more children are now living in consistent poverty in Ireland, demonstrate the clear need for action. 'These are not abstract statistics — they represent children growing up in cold bedrooms, going to school hungry, and missing out on the social and educational experiences that are fundamental to a healthy childhood,' she said. 'We know from our experience on the frontline that the right policy choices do make a difference — we saw it with the introduction of free schoolbooks and hot school meals. Budget 2026 must continue that momentum.' Read More MABS sees 10% surge in families in debt due to soaring cost of living
RTÉ News
8 hours ago
- RTÉ News
Budget 2026 must be 'sensible and prudent'
Business group Ibec has said Budget 2026 must be "sensible and prudent" given the fragile global environment. Launching its pre-budget submission, it urged the Government to take a "measured and strategic approach". The group has also called for targeted investment in areas that enhance productivity and competitiveness. It said sound economic policy must focus on restoring a balance between income and expenditure over the coming years and reduce the over-reliance on volatile tax receipts, such as corporation tax. Ibec also warned that "persistent or emerging tariffs pose a serious threat to Irish business" and it said the economic model Ireland has relied on for the past 50 years is under serious strain. It said while the broader economy may remain resilient, "some sectors will suffer significant and lasting damage to competitiveness". As part of its submission, Ibec said such impacted businesses and their employees must receive targeted support, such as measures on PRSI and trade supports. Ireland needs to 'make right choices' Ibec's Chief Economist and Head of National Policy Gerard Brady said the budget must be framed in the context of ongoing trade tensions and recent US tax reforms Mr Brady said Ireland needs to "make the right choices to safeguard our competitiveness and ability to attract and retain business". "That means investing in productivity focused areas like infrastructure and committing to continue that investment regardless of the economic climate," he added. Ibec also said the high cost of doing business here needs to be addressed and it said more needs to be done on skills and innovation. Mr Brady urged the Government to use funding from the National Training Fund "to make sure that we're investing in skills, particularly at a time where there's significant change in the labuor force due to AI and other new technologies." Mr Brady said: "Ireland still falls short of where it needs to be as an innovation leader and R&D performer." In order to assist in attracting investment, he called on the Government to enhance and widen the scope of the R&D tax credit, which he believes would make Ireland "more attractive investment, both for Irish companies and for multinationals". "Other measures take time to see the benefits for business on things like infrastructure and skills. R&D tax credit would work 1 January," he added. He said the scheme should be expanded to include process innovation, AI, and green technologies. "Allow application to offshore related-party research (with safeguards), provided IP and value remain in Ireland." €3bn budget package proposed Among the other measures in its submission, Ibec has proposed a budget package of €3bn, including €1.3bn in additional infrastructure spending under the National Development Plan. And the business group has called on the Government to "maintain a strong, predictable capital investment pipeline". It said public investment should be "prioritised above all other fiscal commitments." In relation to tariffs, Ibec's Executive Director of Lobbying and Influence Fergal O'Brien said the group is hoping for a framework agreement. Mr O'Brien said Budget 2026 is going to be "predominantly about the stress and pressure in our traded economy, and the uncertainty that the potential global trade war continues to have on the economy". He said the 10% rate, which is currently in effect, is "materially hurting" low margin businesses particularly in the food and drink sectors. "That 10% hurts, especially when you layer it on top of the dollar weakness of pretty much the same scale that we've seen since the start of the year." Mr O'Brien said if the threatened 30% tariff did become a reality, "it will be extremely damaging". He said Ibec members also have "a lot of concerns" about what countermeasures will be introduced by the EU.
