'Absolutely nuts' - councillor condemns use of consultants for affordable housing proposals

The practice of Mayo Co Council hiring consultants to make a case for affordable housing has been condemned by members of the Housing Strategic Policy Committee (SPC).

Cllr Neil Cruise said it was "absolutely nuts" to have firms like KPMG to draft reports so that the council could make a case to the Department of Housing for affordable units. 

"We have a golden opportunity right now to apply for affordable housing in Foxford but surely we don’t need to go through the whole rigmarole of getting a consultant’s report to tell us what we already know?" he asked at last week's SPC meeting.

Cllr Harry Barrett said he would like the council to take responsibility for affordable housing schemes rather than contracting them out to developers, stating: “I have serious concerns about what passes for affordable in these schemes. Bought-in solutions will leave a large cohort of young families not able to afford these houses and I want this policy committee to look at Mayo County Council itself getting involved in schemes.” 

Cllr Alma Gallagher supported the call for affordable housing throughout the county, stating that in Ballyhaunis there is also a housing crisis, despite it having one of the lowest-priced Eircodes for housing in the country. 

“Even those who are wage earners cannot find a house. Older people are also badly affected and we have seen a 500% increase in over-65s looking for houses. I know the council is looking at solutions for older people but many are now effectively homeless and are coming in for help. We need to get our strategy in place because we are nearly two years at this now.”

• Published as part of the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.