Fine Gael county councillor Michelle Mulherin questioned the use of the new long term lease plan announced by the Minister for Housing and Urban Renewal, Michael Finneran TD recently. Minister Finneran announced the €20 million project when he was in Ballina recently to announce the multi million euro funding for the rejuvenation of St Patrick’s Estate in the town.
Cllr Mulherin, speaking at a meeting of the Ballina Electoral Area committee, commented: “This scheme is essentially moving people who are currently in private rented accommodation to other private rented accommodation which the council will rent on long term leases while they remain on the housing list. This plan is also open only to builders and developers not private landlords, so the question has to be asked are we servicing the people or servicing the builders.”
Cllr Mulherin’s concerns were backed up by Mr Paul Benson, Mayo County Council who told the meeting: “The Department make the policy, I just implement it, but in fact personally I think this scheme will just see people moved form one house to another. I don’t necessarily agree with the policy but it is just my opinion.”
No new projects expected
Mr Benson also warned the councillors that he did not expect any new projects to come on stream in the near future. He told the meeting: “I would be concerned that the allocation of funding for housing will be decreasing year on year from now on for a period, therefore I would be reluctant to start anything new, we will be looking to get existing projects completed and then looking at the needs of the vacant housing stock.”
