Provision for 500 new houses in Mayo town rejected by planning regulator

A Mayo Oireachtas member has revealed that plans to facilitate the building of up to 500 houses in the Ballina area was wiped out by Office of the Planning Regulator in recent days.

Senator Mark Duffy, a former member of Mayo County Council, elaborated: "In council buildings I sat next to people in desperate domestic situations who were looking for a new lease of life and to get on the housing ladder.

"At a county development plan level, we are told it is down to our local area plan.

"I sat on the Northern and Western Regional Assembly and we were told in respect of regional spatial strategies that it goes back to the local area plan.

"When we had the opportunity to create the Ballina local area plan, similar to Castlebar and Westport, we made multiple submissions to have land zoned in order to unlock the housing crisis in each and every one of these towns.

"Every recommendation and measure we suggested to improve and unlock the housing challenge in each of these towns was rejected by the Office of the Planning Regulator and the Minister.

"A local area plan for Ballina was signed off on last week but all of the recommendations of the local councillors were rejected.

"This means Ballina has been set back by approximately 400 to 500 houses.

"We need to return power and decision-making to councillors, who, being on the ground and in the community, know best.

"The Northern and Western Regional Assembly identified that Mayo was delivering on 30% of its housing target, based on land zoned, so we need to increase drastically the amount of land zoned, by three times at least, just to ensure we keep up with demand.

"There is a crisis throughout the country. I have outlined the challenge faced on the ground. If we do not address it, it will create huge problems across society.

"I ask that the Minister for Housing comes before An Seanad.

"If there were a cooling-off period for him to reconsider the sign-offs, I would welcome it.

"If a judicial review is what it takes, that should be carried out to ensure we get people living in houses and address the problem and challenge of the housing crisis in Mayo."