Mayo housing committee chair puts down a clear marker

“The last thing we want is another talk shop. Housing is a disaster, and we need to set clear goals for the next five years.”

Those were the views expressed at the first Housing Strategic Policy Committee (SPC) meeting of Mayo County Council by chairman, Councillor Peter Flynn.

The session, convened at Mayo House, brought together councillors, council officials and key stakeholders to address the county’s escalating housing crisis.

Chairperson Flynn launched the meeting with a strong focus on affordable housing, stating that the SPC’s purpose is to move beyond talk and implement ambitious strategies.

Olivia Gallagher, acting head of housing with Mayo County Council, remarked upon the importance of meeting housing targets.

Councillor Alma Gallagher, attending her first SPC meeting, spoke about leveraging her background in the voluntary housing sector to advocate for social and affordable housing initiatives.

She welcomed plans for 25 new homes in Ballyhaunis but raised concerns about balancing residential and commercial development in towns like Claremorris and Ballyhaunis.

“We can’t allow large-scale developers to hollow out our town centres,” she said, advocating for simplified planning processes and strengthened voluntary housing support.

Councillor Michael Kilcoyne highlighted the plight of the 160 individuals in emergency accommodation in Mayo, attributing the issue partly to a lack of council staff since the abolition of town councils.

“We’re down to five people doing the work that 35 were doing before,” he lamented.

He also pointed to discrepancies in funding models, noting that voluntary housing sectors receive full funding while local authorities struggle with partial funding.

A representative from the Construction Industry Federation (CIF), Darren McHugh, and council officials pointed to bureaucratic delays, such as prolonged planning approval processes and infrastructural bottlenecks, including ESB connection delays.

Councillor Harry Barrett painted a stark picture of working families unable to find affordable rental properties. “Ordinary people going to work can’t afford a home. We need to learn from councils like Fingal that have implemented faster housing solutions,” he said.

Barrett also called for regulating Airbnb properties, claiming that the platform siphons supply from the long-term rental market.

The issue of vacant properties dominated much of the discussion. Flynn described his visits to Louisburgh and Lecanvey, where numerous homes remain unoccupied.

“We need policies to bring these houses into use."

A local property tax surcharge for homes vacant more than six months could be a step forward,” he suggested. However, Kilcoyne noted that constitutional protections for private property pose a significant barrier.

Tom Gilligan, director of services, stressed the importance of addressing vacancy and dereliction not only to meet housing needs but also to rejuvenate towns and villages. He highlighted initiatives like the Croí Cónaithe scheme and buy-and-renew programmes as promising avenues.

But Mr. Gilligan stated that there is a need to move away from “hotels and B&Bs to accommodate people in emergencies” towards a more "sustainable approach."