‘Have we any plans for building more houses?’

The lopsided approach to building houses in rural Ireland is causing many issues for people throughout the county. Houses aren’t being built in rural areas to cater for people in their own locality and as a result some areas are getting an influx of vast numbers of people while populations are dwindling in other rural areas.

The issue was raised by Councillor Michael Fitzgerald at the June meeting of the Tipperary/Cahir/Cashel Municipal District recently as he felt it was important to bring it to the attention of the housing section of the council.

Speaking at the meeting, Cllr Fitzgerald pointed out that on the list in front of him houses were being built in some areas and there didn’t appear to be any in other areas. He sought more information on the matter: “Have we any plans for building more houses in rural areas?

“Ardfinnan has 31, Bansha has 35, they have applications because applicants see the possibility of getting a house there. Now in most villages, we have a land bank but do we have any rolling plan to develop villages?”

He pointed out to those present that in the past housing was based on the number of applicants that were on the council’s list, but he said applicants won’t go onto a list where “they see nothing happening on a list” and he felt some areas were completely forgotten about.

He said it can’t keep happening over and over again: “I have raised it several times with this council. The situation we have now with the nominated member form impedes us as councillors representing the people we represent,” he said.

Councillor Roger Kennedy agreed that the matter was a big problem: “I agree with Cllr Fitzgerald on the development of houses in different villages. We have 800 people on approved housing lists in our Municipal District yet five years ago it was around 600 so that is now going to 800.

“While there are a hundred plus houses listed at different stages, we need to do more. Do the council have any houses throughout the county being built by council staff?” he enquired before asking “if they were all gone out to tender and someone else is responsible?”

Cllr Kennedy stated that historically delivering three or four houses to each village was something the council was good at doing and he pointed out that it made a huge difference to people's lives. Speaking on the matter, Cllr Mairin McGrath said: “Build it and they will come. They will go to where the houses are being built”

The council representative said in response to Councillor Fitzgerald’s query, that he wasn’t aware of any comprehensive plan outside of the county development plan for the construction of houses in rural villages.

He pointed out though that they did have a responsibility to look after the development of such areas and said he would talk to the Borough District Engineer John Cooney about the matter and then get back after that to Councillor Fitzgerald.