‘Light at the end of the tunnel’ for 20-year saga as Wexford properties set for tenants

By Simon Bourke, Wexford People

One of the longest-running housing sagas in the history of Co Wexford may finally be nearing a conclusion after the local council confirmed four vacant units may soon be ready for tenants.

The houses, which are in Cluain Dara in Wexford town, were originally intended to be used for a creche as is required for any estate with more than 75 units. However, they have remained vacant for the past 20 years with the developer’s most recent attempt to convert them into residential properties (in 2022) rejected by Wexford County Council (WCC).

However, last year a workaround solution was proposed which would fulfill the criteria for a creche while also allowing the buildings in Cluain Dara to be utilised for housing. At that time, WCC said it was in discussions with the developer of a neighbouring housing estate to provide a “large creche facility” which, given its location, would be considered suitable for those living in Cluain Dara.

This would, in turn, allow the four houses in Cluain Dara to be used for housing.

At the June meeting of WCC, Councillor Tom Forde tentatively asked for an update.

“We were told a year ago the council was in discussions with a neighbouring development to see if they could incorporate a creche into their plans, is there any light at the end of the tunnel?”

While that light is faint, it is visible, according to senior planner Diarmuid Heuston.

“There is some slow movement, planning permission has been granted for the creche,” he said. “Once the creche is built we’ll be able to turn those houses back into residential use.”

The properties, which are numbered 404, 405, 187, 188, are currently boarded up with their windows and doors blocked. They were originally intended to be used as a creche when the Cluain Dara housing development was completed in 2005; however, they have remained vacant ever since.

At a meeting last year, a member of WCC’s planning department explained why the units had lain idle for so long.

“We require that creches form part of the planning application (of over 75 units), and that they are constructed to a standard ready for occupation at an early stage. There have been a number of examples where creches haven’t been built. Those cases have to go through the planning enforcement process.”