Claim that families have become demoralised
THERE are plenty of houses in Limerick on the market for between euro 1,999 and euro 20,000, according to Cllr Kevin Kiely.
He urged Limerick City Council to buy as many as possible, in order to replenish its housing stock,
“if you do not take this opportunity, these houses will be bought by drug dealers for money laundering – money they’ve got from drug dealing, which is ruining our estates.
“The houses could be made available to young families who want to get on to the housing market,” he said.
Agreeing that the boarding up of many houses and demolition of others, required by the Regeneration agencies has increased pressure on the council’s housing waiting list, Cllr Maria Byrne recommended that some of the housing blocks currently boarded up could be reopened up for re-letting.
“These houses could be made ready for re-letting – we have to be mindful of the 20,000 plus on our waiting list,” she told the meeting.
Sharing her colleague’s view, Cllr Lilly Wallace called for more house demolition.
“But we must also do up others and put good families back in to them. As it is, a lot of residents don’t even want to paint their homes, they’ve become so demoralised and so uncertain for their futures,” she said.
Praising the council for the success of the Vizes Court housing scheme, she suggested that more such small housing clusters for elderly people are urgently required.
“However, I am calling on the council to appoint a permanent caretaker for the scheme in the new year”.
Stressing the need for a prioritisation of appropriate accommodation for the elderly, Cllr Ger Fahy said that reduced council resources should not be an issue, and he also called for progress in developing recreational and educational facilities for young people.
“I see no reason why this has to be deferred – it is an element of the regeneration programme that can be progressed without delay,” he said.
