‘I’m sick of false dawns’: Kerry councillor on Milltown’s neglect

By Alastair Tibbs, The Kerryman

A Kerry councillor has lamented the way Milltown has developed over the last five years calling out what he deems is a lack of investment from the council.

Ahead of the review of the council’s Local Area Plan, Councillor Tommy Griffin says he is “sick of false dawns” when it comes to regeneration of the town.

Over 200 new social houses are expected to be built in Milltown by the end of 2026 but no money has been earmarked for development of town facilities or services. Social housing is exempt from council development levies that regular housing is subject to, funds which go to the public development of their respective urban centres.

“I’m not against social housing but Kerry County Council has used Milltown to get their figures up. What you’d call low hanging fruit, they’ve identified Milltown as a place they could significantly develop and deliver their targets,” said Cllr Griffin.

“If you take an average of three people in every new house, they’ll be increasing the population in Milltown by about one-third.”

“Milltown has got nothing back for all these houses, they got zero.”

Milltown grew at an unprecedented pace during the Celtic Tiger era, with its population increasing five-fold, ten times faster than Kerry as a whole.

Most of the homes built in that period were private dwellings and thus paid council development levies.

However, current constructions such as the large Springfield Drive site, where 61 social housing units are being built, not only dodge the town’s coffers, but take up key development land.

Cllr Griffin expressed his frustration over the acquisition of the Springfield site by the council and the resulting lack of affordable housing.

“It’s disappointing for young couples that are trying to get on the property ladder who are now competing with the council for houses. To put it straight out, that’s what happened,” said Mr Griffin.

“Milltown’s crying out for an affordable housing scheme…but at the moment they’re only considering Killarney and Tralee.”

Other investment plans in Milltown seem to have stalled in the action stage.

In July 2024, €455,000 was granted from the government for the Kilderry Looped Amenity Walk, which will connect Milltown to Kilderry woods.

However, the works, which includes the construction of a 1.5km long walkway, are yet to begin.

Mr Griffin said the council’s initial start date was the final quarter of 2024 but now the ground-breaking is set for the end of this year.

The council has also switched twice between using their own workforce for the job and outsourcing to a private contractor, according to Mr Griffin.

“I’m sick of false dawns,” he said, “Kerry County Council need to get serious about Milltown.

“This is the stuff that annoys people and that’s why they have such great difficulty getting a town plan delivered in Milltown. There’s a deep distrust between the people of Milltown and Kerry County Council because of their failures over the years.”

The council has two years to finish the project before the money is rescinded by the government he said.

Also in the pipeline is the development of the town square, which has been allocated €50,000, but again, work is yet to begin.

While Milltown has an astro-turf, a GAA pitch and a playground, the town is lacking in other amenities such as a covered bus stop and, in places, basic street lighting.

“It doesn’t really have the social services that a town of that proportion of housing needs…if you don’t play football or you don’t play soccer, there’s not much else for you to do,” said Mr Griffin.

“Its been long few years where there’s been no investment in the town - significant development without any investment in basic infrastructure. That’s frustrated the hell out of people.

“Kerry County Council has got a lot out of Milltown and its time for them to give something back.”