Local elections 2024: Housing is key election issue in West Cork 

THE Municipal District of West Cork covers a huge area, popular with Irish and international tourists for its remote peninsulas, beaches and quaint towns.

Despite its reputation, those who live there have identified several issues that are present all year round, many of which pose a threat to three of the largest industries in the area — farming, fishing and tourism.

Though the housing crisis is felt all over the country, in West Cork, there are several additional pressures to add to the national problems.

There are a lot of Special Areas of Conservation (SACs), and other ongoing challenges with rural planning permission, and as well as not being able to buy a home, there are hardly any properties for rent in the rural areas.

Also, it is a popular spot for people from other areas in Ireland or abroad to have holiday homes, with these people having the income to spend on an expensive second home, taking stock from people who are trying to buy a first home.

Lack of housing 

Fianna Fáil councillor Patrick Gerard Murphy, explained that one of the biggest issues they see in the area is a lack of accommodation, saying “no different to everyone else — housing is a big issue, a lack of quality housing”.

He explained that incomes in rural areas are often less, but building a house costs largely the same, as though the site may be cheaper, the materials are still very expensive, so lots of people cannot afford to build.

On top of this, getting permission to build or expand a home or business is restricted by a huge amount of SACs, explaining “it can be quite restrictive when it comes to planning”.

Holiday homes 

Social Democrats councillor, Chris Heinhold, agreed, saying: “The number one biggest issue is housing.

“We have all of the nationwide issues, and on top of that we have a big stock of holiday homes and homes being used as Airbnbs.

“Looking around and seeing all these empty properties, while not being able to find homes themselves is really frustrating for people.”

Independent councillor, Paul Hayes, raised the issue of a lack of affordable housing, saying: “While West Cork has seen perhaps the highest amount of social and affordable housing developments in the county in recent years, we are still playing catch up for the many years that little or no houses were being built.

“Rents are skyrocketing across West Cork, with many individuals and families struggling to find suitable, affordable [housing].

“There are far too many empty houses in the constituency too, and despite Government announcements about promoting town centre living over shops, [it] hasn’t really changed much on the ground.”

Affordable homes 

Independent councillor, Karen Coakley, agreed: “There is a massive shortage of housing in West Cork, like all rural areas.

“There’s limited rental properties and there’s also a shortage of affordable housing which is really exacerbating the problem.

“We’re seeing a lot of people in private rental accommodation and then landlords deciding to sell, there’s this cohort of people looking for properties and there simply isn’t enough supply.”

Independent councillor Danny Collins added: “Rural planning guidelines mean people are being refused planning for their homes.

“It’s down to planning policies set by the Government, but things have to change. It is killing rural areas, our local towns and villages.

“One couple were refused planning three times, they kept trying different areas then said to me ‘we might as well pack our backs head to Australia’.”

Fine Gael councillor Caroline Cronin said: “A big issue in the West Cork constituency is the shortage of serviced sites for housing and development in many towns and villages.

“The demand for residential housing is there but the availability of suitable sites, with necessary infrastructure such as water, sewage, and electricity connections, is not.”