It's hoped that €318,000 in funding for water services in two Waterford seaside towns will allow new housing developments to proceed.
€168,000 is being allocated for 'The Cloisters' in Ardmore and €150,000 for 'Newtown Park' in Tramore, these are housing estates where the onus is on the developer to provide water infrastructure.
Both areas are hugely desirable places to live, but the cost of upgrading the water network in each area, if passed on to buyers, would be prohibitive.
Ardmore Cllr Tom Cronin said issues with the water supply in the town has held up a much-needed development of 15 affordable and five social houses:
"We had a serious issue in Ardmore and probably like most seaside resorts when a house became available or was up for sale the locals weren't in a position to buy it because outsiders were coming in and were giving prices that the locals just could not afford, so now this will solve this problem"
Eamon Quinlan is a Tramore - Waterford City West based Councillor he explained to WLR news what the upgrades would mean for the area:
"The lack of proper water infrastructure is limiting the development of new housing estates in the Newtown area of Tramore and the Cloisters in Ardmore... This money will not only unleash a new round of house building but also allow us to finally take Newtown Glen in charge. As well as offering all residents in the wider Newtown area an improved service."
Eamon says there is high demand for housing in the Tramore area, he cited the example of two properties in the Mountfield estate which went on the council's choice based letting website last week, he said each had received over 300 applications per house.
