The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Council is set to buy Rathass site
July 1995
WORK will begin on 10 new local authority houses this year on a site which Tralee Town Council is acquiring from Kerry County Council opposite the entrance to Tralee General Hospital at Rathass. And the 36 new houses at Muing Estate will be ready for occupation by late August.
Town Clerk Willie Wixted told Council members this week that agreement had been reached in principle on the use of the land at Rathass. Mr Wixted said the housing mix would be six two-bedroomed houses and four three bedroomed houses.
Mr Wixted also told Cllr Tommy Foley that the Council was awaiting valuation of the land which he had brought to their attention at Rock Street. Council Chairman Ted Fitzgerald said that he would be making a ‘major tour’ of the town with the Council officials to get extra land for housing.
County Secretary Gerry Heneghan told The Kerryman this week that the Town Council had an allocation of 45 houses this year, and that it would be a shame if they were not able to take that up. Mr Heneghan said their backs were to the wall because they lost 25pc of that allocation through the members’ decision not to approve the construction of 10 houses at Rahoonane.
The good news for housing applicants at Monday night’s meeting was that 36 houses would be ready for allocation within the next two weeks. A housing report, prepared by Assistant Town Engineer John Sheehan, stated that it was hoped to have the houses at Muing Estate ready for occupation in late August.
Twenty houses at Muing have been painted internally and externally with second-fix plumbing, carpentry and electrical work complete. The remaining 16 units are at various stages of second-fix work and have yet to be painted. Construction of the main footpath and road network for the estate is due to begin soon.
At Caherina Cross, two houses have been roofed, and a further three are at an advanced stage of roofing. The remaining houses are felted and battened. Two units have been plastered externally, five have windows and doors fitted.