A MAJOR push to tackle dereliction in the county has resulted in 117 vacant properties being identified in the Cappamore area, local councillors were told.
Limerick City and County Council has hired an inspector to identify vacant properties that could be brought back into use to help hard-pressed families and individuals looking for housing, Gordon Daly, Director of Social Development told a Cappamore/Kilmallock district meeting of the council.
Mr Daly outlined the schemes available to help owners of empty or derelict properties and said that compulsory purchase was “the ultimate power we have if a property is on the derelict buildings list and we are not getting co-operation from the owners”.
Inspections unveiled 117 vacant properties in Cappamore and senior officer, Ann Lahiff, told the meeting that there is ” a high level of vacancies in towns and villages,” in the county.
She told the members that the owners of seven vacant houses in Galbally were referred to the housing director to see if the properties would be suitable for a scheme to bring them back into use.
Councillors were told that there are “live files” on all of the vacant and derelict properties and the council is trying to reach an agreement with each of the owners.
Council members heard that the local authority has now acquired the historic Market House in Kinfinane which has lain idle for many years.
Cllr Bill O’Donnell (FG) said that while he welcomed the focus on dereliction, “the people of Herbertstown and Bruff particularly would say that Limerick City and County Council are all talk and no teeth.
“We’re crying wolf. People will say, the council has left its own premises in Broadford Street derelict for years’ so why would they prosecute anybody else?”
Cllr Noel Gleeson (FF) said that he would “be happy if we were making progress but we’re not. There are empty houses here that had families raised in them and they have all the services. I would hope we see action on this”.
Cllr Mike Hourigan (FF) asked what can be done to allow former commercial buildings to be used for residential purposes?
“A lot of the empty buildings in Kilmallock are listed buildings and they are not attractive to businesses for that reason,” he explained.
Mr Daly told the meeting that there is now a clause in the planning regulations that would allow former commercial premises to have a change of status to residential use.
