Housing

'First come, first served’ for new affordable homes in Wicklow

Some 36 affordable homes in Wicklow will be snapped up by bidders nationwide as Minister for Housing Darragh O’Brien says only 30 per cent will be reserved for locals

Darragh O’Brien, Minister for Housing: new rules require 70 per cent of all new affordable homes to be open to applicants from all over the country

First-time buyers from around the country will be able to bid online for council-backed affordable housing on a “first come, first served” basis after the housing minister intervened to prevent homes being reserved for locals.

It comes amid warnings that there will be an online scramble for 36 affordable homes in Wicklow town tomorrow, when applications open at 9am for two-bedroom homes for €222,000 and three-bedroom homes for €252,000.

Local councillors had expected that they ...