Historic Mayo building is 'at risk of dereliction'

The former Ballinrobe Courthouse is at risk of falling into dereliction unless the first phase of refurbishment works are completed immediately, a councillor has warned.

Cllr Patsy O’Brien told the July meeting of the Claremorris-Swinford Municipal District that more than €557,000 in funding remains unspent, despite years of discussion and repeated commitments to progress Phase One of the regeneration project.

“This has been going on for the last number of years," he said. “I want movement on this. I am sick and tired of embargoes in relation to the spending of money.” 

A total of €700,000 was earmarked for the initial phase, including €525,000 from the Department of Rural and Community Development’s Rural Regeneration and Development Fund, and €175,000 from Mayo Co Council.

However, councillors were told earlier this year by the council’s architects department that only €122,000 of the allocation has been spent so far. Architects also warned that the original budget estimate did not account for any cost increases and said that, once the project goes to tender, any cost differential may require an additional funding request to be submitted to the Department.

Built in 1752, Ballinrobe Courthouse is one of the town’s most historic buildings. It closed in 2010 and has remained vacant since.

Phase One of the regeneration project focuses on ensuring the building’s structural integrity in the hope it will ultimately be brought back into use as a community facility.

Cllr O’Brien said building surveys and partial clearance works were completed in the second quarter of this year, but further surveys are still required. He expressed concern that continued delays could stall future use of the landmark building.

“We can’t do anything until Phase One is done. That is paramount to this project,” he said. “I want this work being done immediately. There are people out there waiting for answers. We have this building, it was got for nothing. It's going to go into dereliction.” 

He called on Director of Services Tom Gilligan to relay his concerns directly to the council chief executive Kevin Kelly.

On a wider note, Cllr O’Brien said he was “sick and tired” of national politicians making “fanfare” announcements about funding for capital projects in Mayo. He said constituents see major funding announcements, but when delays occur and money remains unspent, local councillors are the ones “accused of not running the county properly”.

• Published as part of the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.