Man living in council house 'not fit for a dog', meeting told

The Cathaoirleach of Westport-Belmullet Municipal District has called for the allocation of extra council funding to carry out repairs on a number of local authority houses in the district.

At a budget meeting of district councillors last week, Cllr Sean Carey said there were "so many estates where upgrades of doors and windows are needed, but people are being told there is no money". 

"I think it is essential we increase the budget substantially to do these works in local authority houses.”

Cllr Gerry Coyle supported his Erris colleague and said the council was "wasting" money on new laptops for councillors while local authority houses were left in a poor state of repair. 

"Certainly we do not have enough money for the upkeep of social housing and in the Erris area there are two social houses burnt down that still have not been rebuilt because the council says it does not have the €64,000 needed.

“I could talk about the amount of contribution in relation to [Corrib Gas and windfarms] we are making to Mayo County Council, and then our own lights are off. It is absolutely ridiculous what is going on. For housing and building, the total budget allocation for this municipal district is €32,000... sure that is pittance for the work that needs to be done."

Cllr Coyle referred to the case of an elderly man on Achill Island who had no running water in his house.

"We are in 2024 not 1924, we should have funding, extra funding and I won’t agree to any budget this year that does not see a substantial increase in our municipal district budget. I just can’t understand it. Come with me for part of a day, it will bring a tear to your eye some of the places that people are living."

Cllr John O Malley said he was aware of a man living in a council house that was "not fit for a dog"

"When you ask the council about it you are told, we will get round to it. That is being told to me since last April."

Cllr O'Malley referred to two houses at Aitireesh in Westport, which were compulsorily acquired as part of the N5 dual carriageway project, but have yet to be allocated to tenants. 

“Every day people ask me what’s wrong with those houses, why is the council not doing them up and giving them to people. Is there no money to do them up, and people desperately looking for a house to live in and paying huge rents? 

"There are other houses in other areas also that could be done up but they just say there is no money, so why don’t the council just sell them then?” 

Head of district, Seamus O’Mongain, told councillors he was not familiar with the particular two houses referred to by Cllr O'Malley, adding: “But working on the basis they are part of the N5 project, this would be between the National Roads Authority (NRA) and Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), who I do understand have to purchase some houses to build the complete structure. Typically they dispose of those in time but it would not be a matter for the MD per se but rather, central housing and the NRA and TII.” 

Cllr John O’Malley said he had been informed over a year ago that the council was purchasing the two houses from the TII to do up and allocate to people on the housing list. 

“But nothing has been done and now the trees are growing up outside. It is a shame they are left there like this, it is not right. It’s just unbelievable the length of time it takes to get something done.” 

Cllr Coyle said he knew people who were willing to buy old council houses and do them up themselves and wished to know the regulations around the council selling on a house.

“If there is no money to do them up then get rid of them. It’s fine building houses and apartments in Westport but it can’t all be going to the Westports and we have to remember the rural areas as well. I don’t want places like Doohoma left in the lurch.” 

Cllr Coyle then called for a list of vacant houses owned by the council in the Erris area to be provided at the next meeting, adding: “I am just vexed at the whole thing.” 

Director of Services Joanne Grehan told members she would raise the matter of the two N5 houses with the council’s central housing unit and roads office and would provide feedback at a later date. She also said she will do her best to have the Erris report available for the next meeting.