The members of the housing strategic policy committee of Mayo County Council were given an outline of the planned programme of capital works for 2010 at their first meeting since the June local elections.
However the planned programme did come with a warning from director of services for Mayo County Council, Peter Hynes. “This programme is all prefaced by the funding we get,” he told the meeting. “The word from the Department of Environment is that, even though funding was cut last year, again it looks like it will be cut this year. There is a strong preference coming from the department to move away from building units to leasing and buying units.”
Senior architect for Mayo County Council, Geeta Keena, said: “Our ability to continue to deliver high quality new-build homes as part of an integrated, mixed tenure schemes will be dictated by our capital budgets for 2010 and government policy”. She also outlined the developments that are under consideration for 2010, which include a 38 unit mixed social and voluntary turnkey development in Belmullet; four social units in Belderrig; a mixed social and affordable development of seven units and four sites in Urlar; a social development of 12 units in Knockmore; two separate developments in Kiltimagh, one a turnkey development of four social units, the other a development of 15 social units; and town centre parking in the town. There are also two programmes in the Ballina area, the first an infill development of four social units in Marian Crescent, Ballina, and the second a new development of 21 units on the Killala road in the town. The council also has plans to push ahead with the second phase of the Tubberhill development of 43 units.
Cllr Gerry Ginty asked the council executives was there any reason that Ballina town only had four infill units this year on the proposed programme of works, to which Paul Benson, senior executive officer told him: “It’s cyclical, it’s all part of a rolling three year programme. Some years there are more in some areas than others.” Mr Benson was also questioned on the reality of many of these programmes actually starting and finishing in 2010, to which he replied, “It’s all about waiting to see what money we get from central Government, we have to wait and see”.
