‘Not just bricks and mortar’: Better services needed for new Tipperary housing estates
The increase in housing developments across Tipperary must come with more facilities for the communities moving in, according to a local councillor.
Fianna Fáil councillor Michael Smith said that in his area of Roscrea, there had been an increase in both private and social housing developments, which was very much welcomed, but that more facilities were needed for social housing estates in particular.
"We’ve seen a huge injection in social housing in Roscrea through ourselves and through the approved housing bodies (AHBs), and that is to be very much welcomed,” Cllr Smith told the March meeting of the Thurles Municipal District.
"But there’s more of a responsibility when you’re developing housing that it’s not just bricks and mortar, but in relation to the development levies, that there has to be footpaths, there has to be amenities and services for all these houses.
"With the injection of new houses in Roscrea, they have to come with the adequate amount of services,” Cllr Smith said.
Development levies are imposed by councils on developers of housing for the provision of footpaths, public amenities and infrastructure in new developments.
Referencing two particular estates, Cllr Smith said that services like community centres should be included as part of the overall development.
“We have a huge problem coming down the line to us here in this district in relation to families, children, and safe access from these estates to schools, to the town, and for all these houses that have been built that we don’t have the proper services.
"I’m talking about community centres, I’m talking about a playground, we built houses, but I think there should have been an overall plan in relation to developing that entire area,” Cllr Smith said.
The Fianna Fáil councillor proposed that the district write a letter to the various AHBs that operate in the district, inviting them to a meeting to discuss plans for more infrastructure for these estates.
"We should seek a meeting with them and look for a financial contribution to the council in relation to the necessary footpaths, and I would like to find out where the development levy money was spent,” he said.
"We have a huge problem coming and when we saw these houses coming, we all welcomed them, and we still do, but I think we have a responsibility now to ensure that everything else that comes with that house is safe for everyone,” Cllr Smith added.
In response, a representative from the council’s housing section said they would engage with the AHBs to see what could be done.
"I will reengage with the housing bodies, and flag those points again. We have a meeting with the AHB forum next month, so I’ll also bring it up at that,” councillors were told.