Slow rate of turnover of vacant Mayo council houses criticised at meeting

The slow rate of turnover of vacant council homes to new tenants was criticised by local councillors who complained that people were waiting too long to move into their home.

Councillors in the Westport/Belmullet Municipal District told their monthly meeting that more funding has to be made available to do remedial work on vacant council houses to ensure that tenants move in quicker.

Independent councillor John O'Malley raised the matter where he said it seems that funding for vacant council houses has not been available for months despite a number of homes left vacant for a long period of time.

“There are loads of houses I know which could be done up and there are people waiting for them and they can't get into them because there is no funding. I asked the question at the last meeting and was told a lot of money was spent but if there is it's not enough. These houses are there and don't have to be built and I don't understand why we don't have funding to go in and paint them and fix a toilet seat or tap.

“Its not major work but you cannot put someone in them unless its done and cleaned and painted. There are people waiting for them and could be in by Christmas. There are houses available and it is a shame there is no money for them,” he said.

He was supported by Erris-based Fianna Fáil councillor Seán Carey who said that he knows of two houses in Bangor Erris which have been vacant for over a year and people wanting to move into them.

“I don't believe there is that much to be spent on them and there is an awful lot of people looking for houses. It is a waste that these houses are there and for the sake of a small amount of money to turn them around and have them available for letting to people. With all the money in the budget these houses should be turned around a lot faster and made available for the people who need them,” he said.

Fine Gael councillor Gerry Coyle also criticised the requirement for houses to have to have a certain BER (Building Energy Rating) rating describing the criteria as 'the biggest load of rubbish I ever seen'.

“They are now about insulating houses and people don't have a roof over their heads. They would be better off if they get a house fixed up,” he said.

Seamus Ó Mongáin, Head of the Municipal District said that he will notify the housing department of the councillor's concerns but noted that they were 'making every effort to turn houses around at all times'.