The amount allocated for energy efficiency works in the county has been slashed in this year’s housing capital programme for the county, with funding cut from €400,00 to €190,000. According to Padraic Flanagan, senior executive officer with Mayo County Council, at a Housing SPC meeting on Thursday, the scheme in mind for completion this year with this funding is 20 units in Springfield, Bangor Erris. Initial survey work and electrical inspections on these units have already been carried out and Mr Flanagan said that more than likely basic work will be carried out on these houses, unlike the extensive work which was completed in houses in Newport, Castlebar, and Ballycastle under this programme last year.
Overall, there is an allocation of €4 million for housing in the county, €2.8 million of this funding is for the completion of the CLÁR scheme in Mayfield, Claremorris, for the development of 36 units and community facilities. It is hoped that work will be completed here by the end of the year.
A capital assistance scheme of €500,000 has been approved for the Irish Wheelchair Association in Logmore, Belmullet, for the completion of seven units. The remaining allocation for funding will be made in 2014, therefore it will be the middle of 2014 before the units are complete.
Only two rural houses will be started in the county in 2013, in Westport and Belmullet. Four rural houses which started last year will be completed this year.
A mixed social development in High Street, Belmullet, is currently at planning phase and it is hoped it will start in 2014.
A sum of €75,000 has been allocated under the remedial works programme at Parkview, Charlestown.
Under the casual vacancy programme works to 40 to 50 units in the county will be carried out.
Mr Flanagan said that the €4 million allocation is slightly up on last year’s allocation due to the CLÁR funding.
Chair of the SPC, Councillor John Cribbin welcomed the housing programme.
Radon remediation programme
In the Claremorris Electoral Area out of 24 houses surveyed for radon only two houses have been identified as needing work done which is currently being undertaken. Ballinrobe town is now being examined with a radon housing survey being carried out in the next couple of weeks.
Housing grant schemes
Mobility aid grants and housing adaptation grants applications have been approved to date and Housing Aid for Older People applications which are on hand until August 2012 have been approved. The allocation for 2013 is €2.5 million.
Housing waiting list
The county’s housing waiting list is currently being updated. Those who are on the list are being contacted to see if they are still interested and to update their details. The assessment will be complete by the end of April.
