Coyle: 'I like the protected views. But people need to live here too'

Mayo County Council has been called on to produce an inventory of land owned in the Westport Belmullet Municipal District “that would allow us to build more housing on any piece of land in the district.” 

In making the request, Cllr Peter Flynn recalled that at a previous housing meeting, “there appeared to be very little landbanks for any housing developments greater than ten houses and up.” 

He told management: “We all know the need for affordable housing in the area, but there is nothing in the pipeline and this isn’t good. Westport Belmullet MD is the most expensive district to acquire a house in.” 

Cllr Gerry Coyle complimented the council on the number of social houses being built but said in his area, everyone asks about whether any will be built in Doohoma. He added: “We don’t see much movement on the ground. We also have the issue of planning. People in Erris can’t build a house, including professional people.” 

He referred to promotional campaigns aimed at the Irish diaspora abroad, which are being run in places like Toronto and Sydney, calling on people to “Come back and build back home,” and asked: “Do those signs exclude Erris? Because the message at home here seems to be, ‘Don’t come to a scenic area’.” 

Cllr Coyle added that he even knew of public servants unable to get planning permission, saying: “They can build houses for a council but can’t build a house for themselves. They are told they have no links to the area, yet you could find their DNA in any field. They can’t come back and build a house on the land their father was chased from because of no work in this country before. These people built England and America and Ireland with the money they sent back home but are told they can’t live here now.” 

Cllr Coyle told management: “I bring visitors to come and see our scenic area probably more than anyone else and of course I like the protected views. But people need to live here too.”