Wexford council accused of 'losing sight' of 400-home housing project
Wexford PeopleWexford County Council (WCC) has been accused of “losing sight” of the main purpose of the St Waleran’s project which is estimated to bring upwards of 400 new homes to north Wexford. At the June meeting of the Gorey Kilmuckridge Municipal District (GKMD) Councillors Anthony Donohue and Darragh McDonald requested updates on the project.
Noting that funding had been approved for 40 houses as part of phase one of the project, Cllr Donohue asked when tenders were expected to go out for those properties.
“The consultants have been appointed and the tenders are expected to go out in September,” replied housing officer Paula Shorthall.
Cllr McDonald however, wanted a more detailed outline, a precise deadline for a scheme which he described as “the only thing that’s going to solve the housing crisis in Gorey”.
“The site has been in the council’s hands for ten years, and now it’s somehow gone down the road of sports facilities,” he said, referencing the addition of a sports complex to the project. “We’ve lost sight of our original purpose, which is housing. I’d like some clarity on a proper timeline for the whole project. What’s the hold-up? Is it central government? Is it WCC?”
Perhaps part of that hold-up can be attributed to the lack of wastewater facilities on the site, a problem which has regularly impacted housing developments in the county.
“The site is not serviced, we need an infrastructural fund in place to service these sites,” said Cllr Donohue. “That’s one of the biggest obstacles we face.”
In better news, Ms Shortall informed Cllr Pip Breen that contractors would be on-site in Monamolin this coming September to begin works on new builds there.