by Alan Jacques
AN unfinished €2.6 million social housing development in Abbeyfeale, without public lighting or a footpath, has been deemed an “unholy mess” by local councillors.
Fine Gael councillor Liam Galvin told the council executive at a special housing meeting in Newcastle West this week that the 12-unit Cois na Feile site is a concern to residents in the locality. There are another 12 empty units, privately owned on site.
“This was a private development. Cluid Housing Association came and purchased the property and we sanctioned it and since then it has caused huge problems,” Cllr Galvin claimed.
“It has been nothing but a disaster with the lack of infrastructure, sewerage, public lighting and footpaths. We’ve been left with this mess. The housing development was due to come on stream in June and then we were told November and now it won’t be November. We need to get up off our backsides and start moving forward,” he said.
Fianna Fail councillor Francis Foley deemed the Abbeyfeale development a “disaster from the very first day”.
“It’s an unholy mess. This eyesore needs to be sorted out,” he said.
Cllr John Sheahan told the council executive that it needed to take full control of social housing builds so as not to end up in this situation again.
“As a council we are left with egg on our face. There is a loss to the taxpayer and we could have done a lot with that money,” said Cllr Sheahan.
Limerick City and County Council’s director of housing, Caroline Curley explained that work on the €2.631m development had been delayed by issues out of their control, citing delays in departmental approval, complex legalities and the procurement process as examples. Work on the site would take nine months to complete, she told local councillors, and anticipated that work would commence this June and be key ready for tenants by March 2016.
Cllr Jerome Scanlan described the entire debacle as “septic”. He pointed out to council management that it would have purchased units for social housing for much less than what this development is costing.
“We are stuck out in the middle of the Atlantic and we need to decide whether we keep rowing forward or turn back,” he said.
“New York is in sight,” Ms Curley assured him.
Sinn Fein councillor Seamus Browne said that each unit in Cois na Feile had previously been estimated to be worth €180,000. He believes they are not worth a fraction of this price. However, Ms Curley informed the Sinn Fein politician that the unit cost for each house in Cois na Feile is now €219,000.
“There is nothing to justify this figure for social housing. It might be different if it were a retirement village or housing for people with disabilities. House prices are not that high in Abbeyfeale and this is taxpayers money,” Cllr Browne commented.
