CIE says ‘nearly all’ its 116 vacant properties are unf it for purpose
CIÉ HAS emerged as the latest State body – along with the OPW and An Garda Síochána – to have a portfolio of vacant properties.
The Government, widely criticised for failing to announce any significant new measures to tackle the housing crisis in the budget, has launched a number of projects – including the Vacant Homes Tax and the Croí Cónaithe schemes – in a bid to bring empty homes and buildings back to life.
However, many State-owned buildings that could be used for housing remain empty or derelict.
The Irish Mail on Sunday recently revealed how the Office of Public Works – the Government agency in charge of managing the State’s property portfolio – is sitting on more than 150 vacant properties and sites, despite the unprecedented housing shortage.
Now it has emerged another 116 properties, former railway cottages owned by CIÉ, are also lying abandoned across the country.
The highest number of derelict cottages by far is in Mayo (20), almost double the number in neighbouring Galway, where 11 former rail buildings are no longer in use.
The others are located in Cork (nine), Tipperary (nine), Limerick (eight), Westmeath (eight), Roscommon (six), Offaly (five), Sligo (five), Dublin (five), Longford (five), Wexford (five), Carlow (three), Kerry (three), Kilkenny (three), Waterford (three), Leitrim (two), Laois (two), Clare (one), Wicklow (one), Meath (one) and Kildare (one).
Details of the derelict cottages were provided to independent TD Michael McNamara on foot of parliamentary queries to Transport Minister Eamon Ryan. In a written response to Mr McNamara, the
State transport agency confirmed: ‘The CIÉ Holding Company has 216 residential properties of which 100 are occupied. The remaining 116 are vacant or derelict but nearly all of [them] are not capable of being economically brought back into residential use, for reasons including advanced dereliction, proximity to the railway and difficulties accessing services.’
Mr McNamara was not satisfied with the answer, asking, ‘What does “nearly all” mean? Does it mean some can be reclaimed; if so, how many?’ The Clare TD is seeking further information, including the number of people seeking housing in the areas around the old cottages.
He said: ‘We need far greater clarity on the other issues – for many aspirant homeowners being near the railway is a bonus.
‘CIÉ could yet be liable’ for the Government’s Vacant Homes Tax, which would be embarrassing’.
A CIÉ spokesman said that, of the 116 vacant railway cottages, ‘no more than 10 are potentially lettable. In most cases these are properties which have been vacated in the last couple of years.’