Outrage as house left vacant for one year
COUNCILLORS called for houses to be made available to tenants far quicker after it emerged that it took almost a year to get a house occupied.
Cllr Anthony Connick raised the matter at the municipal council meeting during the housing report from Martina Donoghue. He said it takes 22 weeks, on average, for a house purchased by the council to be occupied and over 40 houses were acquired. ‘We are buying these houses and some take 51 weeks and others take eight weeks. You would have a new house built in 51 weeks!’
Ms Donoghue said the price the council pays for the house is reflected in its condition, adding that contractor availability is a factor.
‘Why has a house been vacant for 51 weeks? When does the time period start?’ Cllr Michael Sheehan said.
‘From the date the sale is closed,’ Ms Donoghue said.
Cllr Sheehan said there is a council house which has been vacant on Cross Street for some time, while Cllr Michael Whelan reported that a house in Ballycullane has been vacant for 18 months, while there is also a house which was burned in a fire and another vacant house.
Ms Donoghue said one of the houses is suitable for someone in a wheelchair, adding that there is nobody on the list within the district for which it would make a suitable home.
‘We are looking at a family outside the district and we are waiting for funding for the other property.’
Cllr Larry O’Brien said: ‘A couple of months ago we had a list of people looking for a house in the district half a mile long. If someone is coming in from another district we should be entitled to know that.’