Minister's reply to letter was "spurious" and "an insult"
The Mayo County Council offices at Clare, Claremorris where the meeting took place
Cllr Richard Finn has criticised a response sent by the Minister for Housing to a letter sent on behalf of members of the Claremorris-Swinford Municipal District as “spurious” and an “insult.”
The MD wrote to Minister James Browne on foot of a request from Cllr Alma Gallagher regarding exemptions from planning permission for converting commercial units to residential units under article 10(6) of the Planning and Development Regulations, 2001.
Cllr Gallagher said at a previous meeting Ballyhaunis town centre will be ‘decimated’ if commercial properties continue to get repurposed as residential units.
In response, Minister Browne advised a review of the current exempted development regulations is ongoing and engagement with government bodies is nearing completion following which, a wider public consultation will be undertaken.
He said the Government cannot pre-empt the outcome of this process.
Cllr Gallagher said a one-size-fits-all approach would not work for Ballyhaunis with regards to article 10(6).
“We have a lot of multi-unit developments happening and there is no planning requirement for parking in these units and there is a lot of concern in the town over this,” he said.
Cllr Gerry Murray said multi-unit developers take “enormous latitude” with these developments and can have a long-term impact on the amenities of people living in a town centre.
Cllr Finn criticized the letter and said it provided no answers. He said there are many obstacles for developers to provide accommodation during the ongoing housing crisis.
“This is a spurious letter and it doesn’t change anything. We’re in an emergency situation with regards to housing and every single obstacle that can be put in a property owner or developers way is there,” he said.
“We are getting answers back from the Minister we already know. No developer will try to develop unless it is viable and this is kicking the ball further down the road.”
“Letters coming back like this is an insult,” he concluded.
Cllr Patsy O’Brien said the response was a complete snub to the MD.
“They should at least acknowledge what was said but they don’t and they didn’t answer Cllr Gallagher’s query,” he said.
