Mayo councillors tell council to borrow in order to fix housing crisis

Mayo County Council is been urged by a number of councillors to borrow money and be prepared to go into debt in order to tackle the housing crisis.

Members of the Housing Strategic Policy Committee (SPC) on Mayo County Council passed a motion last week calling for at least 400 affordable homes to be built in Mayo before the end of the council term in 2029.

The committee meeting heard that a developer is currently working with Mayo County Council's housing department to build 20 affordable homes in Castlebar. Head of Housing, Olivia Gallagher, explained that the developer was proposing to build ten houses next year and start the next ten houses after they are completed.

Ms Gallagher confirmed that they are also in discussions with another developer in Castlebar and they are the only affordable housing projects currently proposed for the county.

The number of affordable houses proposed in the development was criticised by local councillors who said the demand for affordable housing in the county was 'off the charts'.

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Westport councillor Brendan Mulroy told the meeting that the council could not wait for government funding to build and called on them to borrow money even if it means going into debt.

“Why can't we develop green field sites because we have loads of land and why can't we apply to the department or get a loan ourselves and be proactive.. That will not be an issue whatsoever.

“No member of the public will blame any official or elected representative for letting Mayo County Council go into debt if they have given a good rattle at the housing problem. Now it is time to step up. We have the land zoned and now it is time to build the houses because no one is ever going to blame us for going into debt,” he said.

Support

The Fianna Fáil councillor was supported by a number of other members of the SPC with Independent councillor Michael Kilcoyne pointing out that a couple on the national minimum wage could not qualify for social housing.

Fine Gael councillor Neil Cruise suggested that it was time to get rid of the income limit in order for more people to get council homes.

“Afforability is a huge issue. I agree with what was said in relation to the county council going into debt. It is a hot issue and our recommendation is we drive on and we do take out those loans and provide those houses. Where we are at is not getting anywhere near the problem.

“I would echo what Brendan said and we need to use our TDs to lobby the Government to remove this thing about income limits with regards to social housing. There should be a social and affordable housing mix and the income limit for social housing should only be a part of the evaluation process and not the be all and end all,” said Cllr Cruise.

Cllr Brendan Mulroy

Cathaoirleach of the SPC, Cllr Peter Flynn, expressed frustration after he was informed by the Director of Services, Tom Gilligan, that the Department of Housing has not given the council a target with regards to the delivery of affordable housing.

The Westport councillors pointed out that Westport Town Council was able to deliver a 53 affordable housing scheme in the early 2000s and there was no excuse for the county council not delivering.

“We have four years left of this council and we need to make a determination that we require 400 affordable houses to be delivered through cost rental, affordability or serviced sites and get that message back to Minister Calleary and Minister Dillon that we want 100 houses delivered every year. We have to start somewhere,” he said.

Approval

The meeting agreed that the county council should seek a loan in order to develop houses but was advised that the Department of Housing will have to agree before it can be sanctioned.

Olivia Gallagher also pointed out that it was unrealistic to suggest that any developer who proposes a 100 unit development will be able to start construction before the end of next year.

She also proposed that the council carry out a new survey to obtain information on the public's appetite for affordable housing.