Waterford has ‘best record in the country’ in dealing with residential vacancies

The pervasion of dereliction and vacancy across Waterford was highlighted at a Plenary meeting last Thursday week, where Councillor Joe Conway requested that reports be issued to the council regarding what he described as the ‘business of dereliction and vacancy’.

“There’s no escaping this. Make no mistake about it, the whole business of dereliction is the antithesis to subsidy. It’s a disincentive to economic development,”

Cllr Conway said.

Pointing to a report carried out on the topic, Mr Conway noted that there are 90,000 vacant residential units in Ireland, 5,194 of which are in Waterford. According to a 2017 Action Plan on vacancy, Mr Conway added, 1 in 4 residential units in Cappoquin are vacant, while in The Glen in Waterford city, 1 in 3 are vacant.

“Just imagine that, in the midst of a housing crisis,” he said.

UNDERSTANDING THE ‘FRUSTRATION’

Responding to comments made by the independent councillor, Waterford City and County Council Chief Executive, Michael Walsh stated that Waterford has the ‘best record in the county’ with regards to dealing with vacancies.

“At some point, when the political system will give us the instruments so that we can deal appropriately and effectively with vacancy, and vacancy in particular, we will be very happy to do so,” Mr Walsh said.

He went on to note that there are currently major issues in terms of enforcement in the area which relate to the constitutional right to property.

Mr Walsh also noted the council’s proactive approach and ongoing activity to address the issue in Cappoquin in particular.

“I just want to make the point that it is facile to say that we should be doing a heap and that we can change the world here. We are, I would say, being more successful than any other authority. I don’t like the suggestion that it is otherwise, but I equally can understand the frustration.

“There is still the fundamental issue that a lot of the properties cost a hell of a lot more to bring back into use that is recoverable economically from them and that is at the essence of the problem,” Mr Walsh added.

Director of Services, Kieran Kehoe, added that a report on derelict sites could be added to the monthly documents issued to council members, however, noted the response time given when notice is issued to property owners is between two and three months and recommended that quarterly reports be issued instead.