Councillor seeks action on vacant council houses

An Erris-based councillor has called on Mayo County Council to reinstate a number of vacant council houses in the area.

Cllr Gerry Coyle told last week's meeting of Westport-Belmullet Municipal District that he was sick of hearing about the need for retrofitting and BER ratings when people just wanted houses put back into use and were even willing to do any necessary refurbishment work themselves.

“There are 12 vacant houses in Erris belonging to the council, not counting the pyrite-affected houses [owned by the council] and the two that were burned out. The council needs to put a roof over people’s heads. What will happen in places like Carrowteigue is we will have to put sheeting around those vacant houses if they are not put back into use soon, which will cost more money in the end.” 

Cllr John O’ Malley said he had been informed by the council that it had no money to repair vacant houses around Westport, adding: “So there is no funding even when the houses are there. They don’t even have to build because these particular houses are empty and already empty for a year.” 

Cllr Chris Maxwell wanted to know what the council’s plans were in relation to a recent site purchase for housing in Louisburgh.

Head of the MD Seamus O'Mongáin said plans are afoot nationally for the pyrite remediation scheme for the local authorities. 

"We hope it will come very shortly. We can’t proceed without them.

“In relation to returning houses to use that are within our control, there is some good news. We are currently conducting a review in Belmullet, where there is a tender going out in the next 5 to 10 days to return five or six of the houses on the list to occupancy, which can be done quickly, we hope by St Patrick’s Day.” 

Mr O'Mongáin added that a review of vacant properties in Westport was ongoing with a similar plan to turn vacant houses around for occupancy.

“Some of them, however, do have ownership and legacy issues, more to do with formalising ownership and we are seeking to do that and are working on it. There is progress but I do accept it is not as quick as I would like either.” 

On the Louisburgh site acquired by the council, Mr O'Mongáin said design works were currently taking place.

He added that there is a significant expansion of council housing stock was taking place, with new schemes in Mulranny, Achill and Belmullet added in recent times.