‘Transform derelict buildings into social housing...’

CLLR Michael O’Shea from Milltown has called on Kerry County Council to turn as many derelict buildings into social housing as it possibly can as it’s proving ‘a scourge’ to the landscape of towns and villages. The plea was made at a recent meeting of Kerry County Council where he called on council management to transform derelict buildings into badly needed social housing.

“This is a scourge in every community and nothing is happening about the problem,” Cllr O’Shea said. “I can’t understand why we don’t have the same ambition towards dereliction as we did in the past. These old sites have been left untouched for years and I’m asking that we replace them with badly needed social housing. It was done back in the 1990s and it can be done now.” Council management said they recognise the negative impact caused by derelict properties and to help tackle the problem a new derelict officer has been appointed to deal with derelict sites on a full-time basis. The council estimates that somewhere in the region of 90 properties have been identified in the county. Moreover, the owners of properties that have fallen into a poor state have been served with notice asking them to carry out the necessary remedial works. The council added that if suitable sites are identified for social housing, they will be assessed. But stated the cost and complexity of delivering social housing through dealing with derelict sites are important considerations also.