HOUSE DEAL LANDS TOWN COUNCIL IN HOT WATER
Hackles were raised at this week’s meeting when it was revealed that Fermoy Town Council has purchased two houses in Kilworth and Castlelyons to accommodate some of their social housing applicants.
The houses were originally acquired by Cork County Council as part of the Part V agreement with developers and were to be sold by the authority to private owners as affordable homes. When the houses did not sell, Fermoy Town Council agreed to the purchase deal.
Speaking at this week’s meeting of Fermoy Town Council all councillors raised questions regarding the validity of the future allocation considering it was outside the limit of the town, however, town manager Tom Stritch explained that everything was above board.
“There is no impediment on any authority to purchase houses in other districts or to allocate these houses to people on their waiting lists. This is a common practice among local authorities and it is not uncommon for Cork County Council to have done the same with neighbouring counties such as Limerick, as an example,” he explained.
Cllr Seamus Coleman expressed concern over the maintenance and care of the houses considering the tenants will be the tenants of Fermoy Town Council but it was agreed that an arrangement would be made with Cork County Council.
Cllr Olive Corcoran expressed her anger that the town manager did not examine some of the vacant houses in the town and purchase them first before reaching beyond the limits of the district.
“I know one woman and she has two mortgages, both of which she is struggling to pay. I know if she had been approached she would have sold one of her houses for a lot less than what the council paid for these houses,” explained Ms Corcoran.
“While I was on the campaign trail I saw loads of vacant houses throughout Fermoy and I really think some of these avenues should have been examined first.”
Mr Stritch again explained that the houses were bought off Cork County Council and not the developer who built the estate in the first place. Tadhg O’Donovan and Patrick O’Driscoll were the only two councillors not to raise concern about the purchases stating that it was a “win-win situation” for the taxpayer.
Published:
Friday 18th September 10:33am
