More than 2,000 households on West Cork housing and transfer lists

More than 2,000 households are on Cork County Council’s housing and transfer lists across West Cork and the Bandon–Kinsale area. The latest figures show 619 approved households are waiting for housing and are not currently receiving another housing support.

A further 1,384 households have been approved for transfers, including people receiving support through the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme. The figures mean 2,003 households are recorded across the two lists in the council’s western division.

Another 202 housing applications have been received since the beginning of this year. The scale of the demand was highlighted in figures presented to councillors showing that four three-bedroom homes at Cúl na Gréine in Bandon attracted 463 expressions of interest. The homes were viewed more than 1,500 times while advertised through the council’s Choice Based Letting system.

A house on Glandore Road in Leap attracted 224 expressions of interest, while homes in Bantry, Dunmanway and Kinsale each attracted between 159 and 329 expressions. There are currently 819 active Choice Based Letting users in West Cork, along with 231 inactive users. A total of 49 properties were advertised in the area during 2026, with 43 either allocated or under offer. None of the offers was refused.

Stark illustration of need

Social Democrats councillor Ann Bambury said the figures provided a “stark illustration” of the level of housing need across the division.

She said the demand was particularly evident in the Bandon–Kinsale area, with Bandon now one of the fastest-growing towns in Cork county. She added that increasing the supply of social housing would give families secure accommodation while reducing the State’s reliance on HAP and the private rental market.

Cork County Council’s Director of Housing, Keith Jones, acknowledged that there was significant demand for social housing.

He said the council was preparing a “significantly enhanced” construction programme as part of the Government’s new housing plan. Mr Jones said Choice Based Letting information would be used to identify the towns and villages where demand is greatest and to guide future land purchases and housing projects.

The council has commenced 56 tenancies in the Western Division so far this year. Its housing stock in the area stands at approximately 2,100 properties.

• Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.