Mayo councillor accuses housing body of 'going into hiding'

A MAYO councillor has accused an approved housing body of 'going into hiding' and allowing up to 35 houses in a Knock estate to remain vacant.

Members of the Claremorris/Swinford Municipal District described as disgraceful and galling the number of houses in the Churchfield Lawns estate in Knock which have remained vacant for a number of years.

The matter was raised by Claremorris-based councillor Richard Finn who highlighted that up to 35 houses at Churchfield Lawns in Knock have been vacant for a number of years while three houses and eight apartments in An Tinteain on James Street in Claremorris have been closed for 20 years.

The meeting heard that the houses in question in Knock had been taken over by an Approved Housing Body (AHB) but following a notice of motion submitted by Cllr Finn, he was informed that this body is unable to progress the scheme and 'Mayo County Council is progressing on the basis of taking on these units as part of its own delivery programme'.

Blue in the face

Cllr Finn welcomed the development but criticised the AHB for going into hiding and not facing up to their responsibilities.

“I am blue in the face talking to Mayo County Council but we have an Approved Housing Body down there gone into hiding. The AHB think they are great people and do-gooders and setting up these houses for people but the next thing they are gone into hiding when some problem arises they are not able to handle.

“It seemed a great idea at the time but it is not such a great idea today because of all the problems in trying to help people out. If you don't want to help people out, don't take on the job and don't do it.

“It is a downright disgrace in this day and age that you can go into a village and there are 35 houses empty. If the Government is serious about homelessness and housing our local people we have to tackle these problems straight away. It is not rocket science but it has been going on for years,” he said.

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The Independent councillor was supported by Cllr Patsy O'Brien who commented that there is 'something awful wrong and some unChristian people out there if they want to leave people homeless and have vacant homes'. He described the people who run these AHB's as 'faceless' who should be taken to task for not facing up to their responsibilities.

Ballyhaunis-based councillor Alma Gallagher agreed that it was a disgrace that 35 houses were left vacant in Knock but pointed out that AHB's are one of the most regulated organisations in Ireland. She added they often have to deal with people with additional needs and issues they deal with are 'a lot more than just bricks and mortar'.

Knock-based councillor Deirdre Lawless said that while it will cost significant investment to upgrade the homes it was a shame to see them lying idle.

In response to the comments by a number of the local councillors, Tom Gilligan, the Director of Services with Mayo County Council told the municipal district meeting that council have a good working relationship with the AHB in question and were working to see the houses occupied.

Slow to cross the Shannon

He added that the local AHB's do tremendous amounts of work in difficult circumstances and was critical of the large national AHB's who he said do not want to invest in counties west of the Shannon.

“What I am critical of is the larger approved housing bodies who should have a national remit but unfortunately from what I can see are very much focused on the regions such as the south and east where the numbers are and very slow to cross the Shannon and come here into the west.

“We have had very low uptake in relation to the large approved housing bodies here in Mayo and that has to stop. We need their support and need their activity on the ground if we are able to meet our overall Housing for All targets. 

“That is vital because the council is delivering on its targets but unfortunately the larger housing approved bodies are not delivering in Mayo and that has to change.

“I do hope it is part of the new housing for all plan that there is a focus on the large approved housing bodies putting their strengths and skillsets and enthusiasm and money into Mayo and deliver more housing for people,” he said.