Funding to unlock land ‘great news’

THE Department of Housing has announced funding to unlock lands in Carlow for the development of 400 residential units.

The funding will see upgrades to the Mortarstown wastewater treatment plant, as well as support for the Carlow Southern Relief Road, as part of the L4058 Service Road Project.

The news comes as part of the first phase of the Housing Infrastructure Investment Fund, aimed at supporting direct investment in infrastructure needed to unlock the development of housing sites nationwide. The government says the fund will directly deliver 86,000 new homes.

The fund was established in the government’s housing plan for 2025-2030 Delivering Homes, Building Communities to try and unlock sites that are zoned for residential development but cannot be built on due to inadequate water, road and energy grid infrastructure.

Local Fianna Fáil TD Jennifer Murnane O’Connor welcomed the announcement and said the “scope for development on this side of our town is now significant, along with the potential to alleviate the traffic congestion on this area of the town” - referring to the Askea area.

Fellow Fianna Fáil TD for Carlow/Kilkenny Peter ‘Chap’ Cleere described the announcement as “great news” for the constituency.

Deputy Cleere, who is also the party’s rural affairs spokesperson, said that the upgrading of wastewater facilities and transport infrastructure is “absolutely crucial for those living in rural Ireland.” “We must continue to accelerate local infrastructure delivery of housing and funding projects like these is crucial to delivering that,” he said.

“We must not be punished for living outside the M50 and I am pleased today to see local critical infrastructure being supported by government. The acceleration of housing and infrastructure in rural Ireland is a priority for me,” he added.

Deputy Cleere also called on Carlow and Kilkenny local authorities to apply for funding to progress projects that will further unlock housing across the constituency.