‘Govt inaction on vacant dwellings is inexcusable’

FIANNA Fáil TD for Cork North West Aindrias Moynihan has hit out at the Government for failing to put in place the necessary supports and infrastructure to help revitalise small towns and villages.

Deputy Aindrias Moynihan made the comments following Fianna Fáil’s public meeting on housing held in the Silversprings Hotel in Cork last week which was open to members of the public and set out the party’s response to the growing housing crisis.

He said: “The Action Plan for Rural Development was announced in January 2017 and in it the Government committed to establishing a grant to help first time buyers refurbish delict buildings in rural towns and villages. However we are now 15 months on from this announcement and it has transpired that the Government hasn’t even begun rolling out the grant.

He said that “towns and villages are struggling to survive” as the Governmetn is focusing its efforts on bringing jobs to the cities and large urban areas.

“In Macroom for example, where there are more than 40 vacant commercial properties on the Main Street alone. There are also 20 vacant dwellings in Ballyvourney and the same story is repeated in towns and villages in Cork and right across the country... It’s clear that we need to see the rollout of supports to help refurbish vacant buildings in towns and villages. Fine Gael committed to implementing such a scheme but they are yet to deliver on their promises,” he said.