Mayo father outlines stress of not being able to buy home

A Westport resident has written to Mayo's Oireachtas representatives expressing his concern over the fact the current government has not approved a single affordable housing scheme in the county to date.

The man, which wishes to remain anonymous at this stage, outlined: “In my current position, I cannot afford to purchase a house in my locality and I have tried to get planning on family land, but the site is unsuitable.

“I currently live with my mother, father and two brothers and have to share a bedroom with my four year-old-daughter on the days when she is with me.

“As you may understand, this is a very stressful situation for me as I have no space of my own to raise my daughter while she is in my care.

“And, unfortunately, I do not meet the criteria for social housing as my earnings amount to more than the social housing threshold.

“Three miles from my parents’ house there is a Mayo County Council plan to build 50 houses and not one of them is marked for affordable housing.

“As I work shift work, I require the assistance of my mother to mind my daughter if I am working late. Therefore I need to be relatively close to my family home for support.

“I am wondering if you can address my concerns with somebody in local government or on a national level on the lack of affordable homes.

“As a single father, my concern is that as my daughter gets older she will need her own space that I will not be able to provide and I am concerned that me not being able to provide this space will restrict me from having her as often as I would like.”

Speaking to The Connaught Telegraph, the man said it is nearly impossible for him to get a foot on the property ladder at this time.

“I spoke to many people who have fallen into a gap in the market where they can’t avail of a mortgage because their earnings are too low and they can’t save enough to bridge the gap because of rent or family position at the current time.

“My main concern is that one day I may not be able to provide a place for my daughter when she is in my care,” he said.