Progress made on vacant homes in Mayo town
Progress is being made in relation to several vacant social houses in the Ballina Municipal District,
Local councillors were dismayed to learn last month that there are 16 social houses lying vacant in the municipal district and called on Mayo County Council to act immediately.
At last week's municipal district meeting, the head of the district Declan Turnbull told councillors that two of the vacant houses have been offered to tenants. In addition, Director of Services for Mayo Co Council Tom Gilligan said funding had been approved to carry out the necessary works on eight of the vacant properties. He added that approval had also been granted for four of the properties in relation to casual vacancies.
Mr Turnbull said that there were four homeless cases in the district during April, an average of one per week. He said the council is dealing with these on a case-by-case basis as best they can despite limited available emergency accommodation.
He added that 18 private housing grants had been approved in April in Ballina while three valid local authority home loan applications had been received.
Mr Turnbulll also provided councillors with an update on housing projects at Duffy's Bakery (34 units) and The Meadows (15 units), both of which have progressed to Stage 1 Approval.
