Council flags ‘good news’ on vacant houses

Mayo County Council management is flagging “good news” in relation to properties that were compulsorily possessed several years ago for the purpose of constructing the new N5 Turlough to Westport motorway, writes Joan Geraghty.

Fine Gael Cllr Ger Deere raised the matter at the July meeting of Mayo County Council, saying he was “blue in the face” from asking about the properties, adding: “I understand some have been moved on but the one at Pheasant Hill, that operated as a B&B with eight or nine rooms for many years is still lying vacant and looking terrible. 

"This is going on too long and we are not accepting the delays anymore. It is a blight and looks very bad for us to have such a property vacant in the middle of a housing crisis."

Director of Services Catherine McConnell told Cllr Deere: “We are expecting some progress in relation to the houses on the N5 before the end of the year, and it should be a success story.”

• Published as part of the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.