Cork County Council mistakenly bought property for social housing — in Limerick

A property bought by Cork County Council is expected to be transferred to Limerick council for allocation to a local family

Cork County Council acquired the property in the townland of Kilglass, Anglesboro, near Mitchelstown and the Galtee Mountains, not realising it was located in Limerick. File picture: Denis Minihane

Cork County Council mistakenly bought a property for social housing — in Limerick.

The council acquired the property in the townland of Kilglass, Anglesboro, near Mitchelstown and the Galtee Mountains, not realising it was located in Limerick.

It is understood the property is due to be transferred to Limerick City and County Council and will be allocated to someone on the council’s social housing list.

Two separate motions submitted by Limerick councillors sought to address the matter, but both were deferred until further clarification is received.

A motion submitted by local councillor Eddie Ryan asked housing minister James Browne to transfer the property to Limerick council and for a Limerick family on the social housing list to be allocated the home.

Another councillor, Tommy O’Sullivan, said there should be more cooperation between local authorities.

“I accept that an error was made, it was just an error,” Mr O’Sullivan told the Irish Examiner.

“We all need to work together. We share roads and we share rivers. We share land. Up where I come from, on top the Ballyhoura Mountains, we share boundaries all the time, be it through the bike trail or through river walks.” 

Going forward, Mr O’Sullivan said, he hoped local authorities would do their “due diligence” when an acquisition was on the table.

“If there's any question, contact the authority which the land may belong to. Whatever authority, at that stage it will come to the floor of the local electoral area."

Spokespeople for Limerick City and County Council and Cork County Council both said they did not comment on individual housing cases.