80 applications to tackle “shocking and frightening” dereliction levels in Sligo Borough area

80 out of 257 applications made for refurbishment grants to do up derelict properties in County Sligo are for buildings in the Borough District of Sligo.

The figure was released to members of the Sligo

Borough Strandhill municipal district where it was welcomed, with one councillor describing the level of dereliction in Sligo town in particular as “shocking and frightening”.

Councillor Tom MacSharry, reacting to figures on the take up of the Croí Conaithe building refurbishment scheme said he was “a big fan” of the Croí Conaithe initiative.

While the Council were doing “great work” through the scheme, he said the dereliction rate in Sligo is “shocking and frightening,” but he hoped initiatives such as the Croí Conaithe scheme might encourage people to make a move on properties.

“It would be great to see some of the properties in the urban core being refurbished,” he added.

Cllr Sinead Maguire was told the reasons why four applications were rejected varied, but generally were related to the application not meeting the requirements of the scheme.

Cllr Arthur Gibbons praised the scheme also, his only concern was the fact the grants were paid after the work was done, he said he would prefer if they were paid as the work was ongoing.

The councillors heard that out of 257 applications made to date, 80 of those in the Borough District of Sligo. There are 166 initial inspections with 54 of those inspections carried out,

Ten grants have been approved in the Borough District and four of those have been refused.

There are 66 applications for refurbishment grants in Sligo town out of 80 in the Borough.

The Council have received 19 notifications of works complete and out of those 19 applications they are waiting for further information on six.

They have processed five payments to date and have another five going through in the next two weeks, councillors were told.

The Council agreed there were issues with payments at the beginning but that is moving on now.

The report information was given in tandem with a motion from Cllr Rosaleen O’Grady seeking an update on progress by the Council in relation to seven derelict houses on Holborn Street. Cllr

O’Grady, said the houses on Holborn Street has been on the agenda for a very long time and she was hopeful the Croí Conaithe scheme would be effective in resolving the dereliction on the properties on Holborn Street.

“Not alone is there dereliction, there is water coming out of those houses as well,” she said.

Cllr O’Grady said the houses were an eyesore and she was keen to see the issue “moved on”, hence her motion seeking an update on the derelict houses on Holborn Street.

“I think it is a great scheme and I hope those derelict properties will come under the Croi Conaithe umbrella and can be made ready for use again,” she said.

In reply to Cllr O’Grady’s query on the Holborn Street properties she was told the owner of the seven derelict houses along Holborn Hill had pre-planning discussions with the Planning Authority to redevelop the site which extends westwards on to Markievicz Road.

“The Derelict Sites Team will keep reviewing progress on this,” the written reply from Dorothy Clarke, Director of Services Planning, Community & Economic Development, Arts & Culture stated.