Kilfeacle houses are just left lying idle despite the housing crisis across the country

Housing is at a premium in Ireland currently with a shortage of available accomodation and the issue of vacant houses was raised at the recent meeting of the of the Tipperary/Cahir/Cashel Municipal District.

During the Housing Directorate Report section of the meeting Councillor Annemarie Ryan raised the matter: “There is an estate out in Kilfeacle that is empty. Obviously it was developed as an estate. There are maybe two houses in there that are occupied, then the rest are all ‘Three Bed Semis’ that are empty,” she said, asking if the Council could look into the matter and contact the developer about it.

She pointed out that there is currently a housing crisis and added that people on the housing list would be very interested in these houses. Senior Executive Officer Cora Morrissey, Shane Grogan and Senior Executive Engineer Robert Johnson were all present at the meeting.

In response the Council Representative said that there was correspondence with “themselves and the Planning Section” previously about the houses. The official said in relation to the estate that “some of it changed hands” and the houses weren’t for sale at the time when correspondence was made.

Councillor Annemarie Ryan then asked for further details on the matter because she said that “to the best of my knowledge there is a sign on them saying they are for sale.

“They are relatively decent houses lying boarded up and empty and I think - given the current situation we are in - and if there is funding from the department, we should actively be doing something to get those properties back into use,” adding that she would like further correspondence from the Council so there would be more up to date information.

Following that Cllr Michael Fitzgerald said he had approached the Council about the matter but was told “the demand in Kilfeacle wasn’t strong enough for the Council to buy houses.”

He said he “can still give the details to the purchasing section of the County Council if the Council were willing to buy.” Cllr John Crosse agreed with him saying “where there is houses there is demand”.