Just six homes advertised for rental across wider Athlone area

The shortage of properties available to rent in the Midlands remains a serious issue, with just six homes across South Westmeath and South Roscommon being advertised for rental on Daft.ie at the time of writing today (Tuesday).

The widely-used property website is currently listing no homes available to rent in the urban centre of Athlone.

The only two properties currently advertised for rental in South Westmeath are a two-bedroom apartment in Baylin, listed for €1,100, and a three-bedroom home at Ard Grainne in Moate, listed for €1,450.

In the Athlone area of South Roscommon, there are two properties currently advertised in Cornafulla, for €1,200 and €1,450, one in Knockcroghery, for €1,500, and one in Monksland, for €1,400.

On the Newstalk radio programme 'The Hard Shoulder' last Friday, Dr Ali Raza Ansari, a trainee GP in the Midlands, said he was currently sleeping in his car because he was unable to find accommodation.

He said the housing crisis was preventing medical staff from moving to Ireland to work for the HSE.

"I know many of my friends who have secured… a job here in Ireland but they can't come here because they can't find accommodation," he said.