Call for additional derelict sites officers in Mayo

AN additional derelict sites officer should be appointed in each electoral area in Mayo.

In a notice of motion, Councillor Harry Barrett said in light of the escalating housing and rental crisis in Mayo and the unacceptably high number of derelict and vacant properties in the county, he was proposing the council demands the appointment of an additional derelict sites officer for each electoral area to give a more meaningful and impactful use of the Derelict Sites Act 1990.

Each officer would be asked to furnish a yearly report to the council outlining the actions taken using the Act.

Councillor Barrett highlighted at a council meeting how there are 9,000 vacant and derelict homes in the county, at the time of a chronic housing crisis.

If dereliction was the Premiership, 'we would be Man City', he said.

The Act, he added, was designed to fail as the authority doesn't have the staff.

His motion was to 'staff this up' and have more impact from the Act.

“Let's resource this Act and deliver housing.”