Council is 'legally obligated' to take charge of Newport estate

A Fine Gael councillor has accused Mayo Co Council of abdicating its responsibility by failing to take over 22 vacant houses in the "middle of a housing crisis".

Cllr Peter Flynn says the homes at the Black Oak Rise housing estate in Newport were supposed to be progressed as social housing in a joint partnership between the council and Tuath Housing Association three years ago. 

Speaking at a meeting of Westport-Belmullet municipal district, Cllr Flynn said the council is "legally obligated to take the houses in charge", adding that a plebiscite was presented by residents in 2021 requesting that the local authority initiate a takeover. 

Head of the municipal district, Padraic Walsh, said that the road in the estate was not up to the necessary standard, but Cllr Flynn refuted this claim.

“The council has a legal obligation to take it over. It doesn’t matter if they have no road, it doesn't matter if they’re going up and down there in boats. The reality is that Mayo Co Council is legally obliged to take over that estate,” Cllr Flynn said.

He cited a High Court ruling in Co Clare that said a local authority has 12 years to ensure that a development is compliant with planning. 

"If the local authority hasn’t done anything in this 12-year period, it has to take an estate in charge, in the event of the majority of residents voting a plebiscite requesting this course of action," Cllr Flynn quoted the High Court as stating.

Independent Cllr John O’Malley called the situation “a scandal”.

“Twenty-two homes are laying vacant and all the people that are looking for a home."