Simon Coveney talks up towns’ part to play in housing provision and services

Cork’s main towns such as Carrigaline, Fermoy, Mallow, and Midleton will play an important part of the rebalancing of housing provision and services, according to Housing Minister Simon Coveney.

Speaking at the refurbished Carrigaline offices of auctioneering firm Sherry FitzGerald O’Donovan, Mr Coveney said Carrigaline was the fourth fastest-growing Irish town.

Metropolitan Cork, of which it is part, “will have a major role to play within the new national planning framework, which will be the new keystone of our planning system” he said, commenting on plans to fast track schemes in excess of 100 houses straight to a beefed-up An Bord Pleanála.

Outlining the need to build more houses, and in a more sustainable fashion, cities like Cork, Waterford, and Limerick will have to grow to double their current size over the next 50 years, said the housing minister, noting a current need for 4,500 new homes a year in Cork alone, of which just a fraction is being met.

Mr Coveney’s mention of growth of Metropolitan Cork towns like Fermoy, Carrigaline and Mallow will be music to the ears of his hosts for the night, Sherry FitzGerald O’Donovan.

Its principal Michael O’Donovan has maintained Sherry Fitz franchise offices in Carrigaline and Midleton since the early 2000s, and covers Fermoy from his main Mallow SFOD office.