Land flagged for social housing sold

TWELVE acres of land purchased by Dungarvan Town Council for housing three years ago are to be sold to a private developer, to the dismay of the local mayor.

The land on the Clonea Road, in Abbeyside, was mooted as the answer to the town’s housing needs.

It was to accommodate 122 social and affordable houses.

But at a town council meeting last Tuesday night, councillors voted by six to three in favour of its sale.

Local authority homes will instead be spread over a number of areas through contributions levelled on any developer of the site.

Dungarvan Mayor Fiachra Ó Ceilleachair says he was disappointed the sale had been approved by the town council.

A small, local authority estate of 30 to 40 houses could have been developed there, he said, or sites could have been sold to individuals for affordable housing.

Speaking yesterday on local radio, he said the council was taking a chance by selling the land to a developer.

“People had fears that 140 or 150 houses would go into this site on Abbeyside. I don’t think this would ever have happened. The Department of the Environment simply would not have funded it,” Mr Ó Ceilleachair told WLR FM.

“A range of options were available to the council and they have taken a questionable one. We are depending on the private sector. The council has to look after its own house too and I don’t think it has done so.

“A lot of people will be surprised a local authority which bought land just a few short years ago in the middle of the town for housing would sell it off.”

Fine Gael’s Damien Geoghegan defended the proposed sale, saying it was the best way forward for the local authority.

He said: “Dungarvan Town Council will receive up to 70 houses but it won’t just be in one cluster. It will be spread over a number of private developments.”