LABOUR Party councillor Joe Leddin expressed his dismay that councillors voted through amendments to reduce the number of apartments in a residential development for elderly and those with special needs.
Councillors voted at February’s Metropolitan District meeting to reduce the number of apartment units in one proposed development in Raheen.
As part of the decision, the meeting heard, the cost of the remaining apartments in the proposed Ballycummin Road development would be hit by an increase in cost of estimated €60,000 per unit.
Labour’s Joe Leddin took aim at councillors from Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, the Social Democrats, and others, who voted to reduce the size of the proposed development.
Cllr Leddin told the Limerick Post that he believes the decision to downsize the scheme sends a clear message to builders and investors that Limerick will not support high-rise apartment schemes despite several thousand people on housing waiting lists.
“The proposed development on the main Ballycummin Road adjacent to Raheen Church would have provided much-needed residential homes to both our elderly population and those with special needs and various complex disabilities,” Leddin told this newspaper.
“While I understand the concerns of a small group of residents on the proposed height of the building, their objections, despite no impact to their own homes in terms of privacy, light or shading, is disappointing.”
Councillors were advised by the Housing Executive that a reduction in the height and loss of five apartments may render the development financially unviable.
“By reducing the height from five to three storeys, resulting in a net loss of five apartments, the build cost of the remaining units rises by approximately €60,000, or a total cost of €500,000 per unit, to build,” the City West representative said.
“We are in a housing crisis primarily because of councils all over the country rejecting applications for social and affordable houses by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael councillors. The crocodile tears by government as housing completion numbers fall worryingly below targets is partly blamed by their own public representatives who actively lobby against housing projects arising from public opposition.
“As a councillor for many years, I have never voted against housing projects, despite at times vocal opposition, and today we have many successful schemes in Vizes Court, Condell Road, Edward Street, Shelbourne Road, and Sarsfield Court.”
Cllr Leddin added that “we have to call out the hypocrisy of those Dáil representatives who actively support objections locally while supporting government housing policy in Dáil Eireann”.
“I am especially disappointed for Enable Ireland, who had expressed an interest in acquiring several of these specially designed apartments, and the wonderful work they do to support our elderly and young children with special needs.
“The losers arising from todays decision are those most vulnerable in our community that we should be cherishing, namely our elderly and those with special needs, many of whom continue to wait years for suitable accommodation.”
