Two Mayo locations receive housing boost 

Councillors in the Claremorris-Swinford Municipal District have granted Part 8 planning permission for two social housing developments for a total of nine new houses.

The first scheme is four houses located at Riverside Close, Kilmaine and comprises two two-bedroom and two three-bedroom houses, all of which are two-storey.

The second scheme is located at Drymill Lawns, Irishtown and comprises five new units including three two-bedroom houses, one one-bedroom apartment and one two-bedroom apartment.

Cllr Damien Ryan proposed the Kilmaine scheme and said this was another example of Mayo County Council’s ability to deliver housing if funding support is there.

“It just shows, like the opening of the houses in Cross last week, that if our housing process is fully funded, we can move forward in an aggressive way,” he said.

Cllr Patsy O’Brien seconded the proposal.

“I welcome this development in the south of the county and these houses will blend in well and this is encouraging for a small village. It will help to keep the services in these areas,” he said.

Cllr Richard Finn proposed the Irishtown development, which will see houses previously not completed under an affordable housing scheme started around 20 years ago now fully developed.

“This is on land owned by the Council and it is good to see us using our existing land. There is demand for these houses and we have to concentrate on keeping a population in our villages,” he said.

Cllr Alma Gallagher seconded the proposal and said this will be a “magnet for further development” in Irishtown.

“This has been a long time in the pipeline and it is welcome. The creche and the school are all in close proximity to each other and this is a vibrant community with its own ambitions,” she said.

• Published as part of the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.