Council not liable for CPO house costs

CLLR MICHAEL SHEEHAN was assured Wexford County Council will not be liable for costs associating with the compulsory purchase of properties whose owners cannot be found.

Speaking at the municipal district meeting, Cllr Sheehan asked if the council CPOs a property in New Ross which has been left derelict if substantial money will have to be left in an account in the event the owner comes forward. District manager Sinead Casey said: ‘We can take the statutory process to get control of the building. We don’t have control now hence only emergency works have been done. If we can prove we did everything to find out the owner through a CPO process it’s awarded to the council.’