Delay to development
NEWS THAT an Arklow social housing development, due for completion last November, could be delayed until summer of this year, or beyond, was a cause of deep concern to Wicklow county councillors, who said they were unaware of the delay before Monday’s meeting.
During a presentation on the Housing Capital Programme by housing officer Breege Kilkenny, it was outlined that Delany Park, Arklow, which is currently under construction had been the subject of significant delay.
‘There are difficulties with Delany Park, Arklow. The quality is not good and we are not accepting poor quality workmanship. This will roll on and we are going down some serious routes in relation to this,’ she said.
At Monday’s meeting a September 2019 completion date was indicated by Ms Kilkenny, but it was later clarified that this is more likely to be June or July 2019.
‘These 17 houses were to be finished by last November,’ said Cllr Pat Fitzgerald. ‘There are 820 people on the council waiting list, some of them for 16 years. Now, they are facing the possibility of homelessness. I am annoyed about this. How can it take that long? I am aware that there are many issues there but I would do it quicker myself with a few lads off the street,’ Cllr Fitzgerald said.
Describing the delay as ‘absolutely disgraceful’ Cllr Fitzgerald indicated that he would not be in favour of the same developer being contracted for further work in the district.
Meanwhile, Cllr Gerry O’Neill criticised the lack of planned housing for the Blessington area.
‘There is one house for completion in Blessington this year. What guarantee have we got that there will be more? There are people homeless in the area and there is absolutely no private accommodation. What guarantee do we have that Irish Water will give connections to new houses. The treatment plant plan has been appealed to An Bord Pleanála. There have been 800 houses approved for connection over the border in Kildare but that’s not worth a fiddlers to the people of Wicklow,’ he said.
Ms Kilkenny outlined Wicklow County Council’s plans to deliver 327 new homes by the end of this year and 339 for 2020, which are already in the preparatory stages.