Next step in long-running Mayo estate saga is 'imminent'

A report to assess the suitability of Mayo County Council taking in charge a beleaguered Ballindine housing estate is ‘imminent’, according to the local area engineer.

Conrad Harley told last week’s meeting of the Claremorris-Swinford Municipal District that the council’s Estates Take Over and Planning Department is engaging with the current developers of the Ard Lugalisheen estate in the south Mayo village.

The estate was first built around 20 years ago, during the Celtic Tiger period, and some water services, public lighting, footpaths and road surfaces remain to be completed, despite houses being purchased and lived in since then.

“We’ve been in contact with suppliers trying to get estimates and I have been out at this estate at 10pm myself to see what lights are working and which are not,” said Mr Harley told councillors. “It is frustratingly slow but the report is imminent and that will clarify the situation."

The update came on foot of a motion raised by Fine Gael Cllr Alma Gallagher who said the issue needed to be urgently resolved.

“After 6pm, the area is left in complete darkness and it is becoming a health and safety issue. We need to help the residents,” she said.

Ard Lugalisheen had been raised in previous meetings by Cllr Richard Finn and Cllr Patsy O’Brien, with the latter stating that he could "wallpaper his house" with the number of representations he has received on Ard Lugalisheen.

“This has been a disappointment all along the line,” he said. “It now needs to be taken over without delay.”