Shortage of contractors hits efforts to address Mayo housing crisis

by Caoimhín Rowland

A severe shortage of contractors is hampering Mayo County Council’s ability to tackle the region’s growing housing challenges, as officials grapple with a dwindling pool of available builders.

Councillor Richard Finn has raised concerns by questioning Tom Gilligan, head of the Swinford/Claremorris district, about the number of contractors available to the council.

Mr. Gilligan revealed that only four to five builders are currently available to take on council projects - a stark reflection of the labour shortage affecting the construction sector in Mayo.

The cathaoirleach, Councillor Damien Ryan, spoke about procurement as a critical bottleneck, urging the council to simplify procedures to attract more contractors.

"We need to make the process more accessible," he stated, highlighting the urgency of addressing this issue.

Fine Gael Councillor Alma Gallagher, drawing on her experience with community housing initiatives in the east Mayo area, echoed the concerns.

"It’s incredibly difficult to even secure a quote from contractors now," she said, pointing to the strain caused by the widespread shortage of labour.

Aontú Councillor Paul Lawless suggested the council look inward for solutions.

"We need to invest in in-house tradespeople to alleviate this crisis," he said, advocating for a strategy to reduce reliance on external contractors.

As housing demand continues to climb, the council faces mounting pressure to find innovative solutions to bypass the contractor bottleneck and deliver much-needed housing projects for the people of Mayo.