Derelict houses to be sold as council seeks repairs for neglected Wicklow estate
The Wicklow PeopleWicklow County Council has confirmed they will sell off some of its most derelict properties to raise money for long-overdue repairs on neglected estates.
The move was revealed during the council’s October monthly meeting, when officials said they have completed a survey of all houses within the Farrankelly Estate near Delgany,
The local authority has been heavily criticised for their failure to resolve a catalogue of issues faced by residents in the area for years.
These include issues with attic insulation, water supply as well as complaints that the access ramp outside the estate is “not the correct gradient”, for wheelchairs users.
Following a question from Cllr Lourda Scott during the council’s September monthly meeting, chief executive Emer O’Gorman said discussions are ongoing about how to secure extra funding.
“There has been a lot of work done and the Department have committed to ring-fencing some of the funding towards it.”
Cllr Scott expressed the need for these works to be expedited.
“In regard to the property 10A Mill Road which I believe is earmarked for disposal and that the proceeds of that sale would be ring-fenced towards repairs of Farrankelly estate. I would ask that this is progressed as a matter of urgency.”
In response, director of services Michael Nicholson indicated they are working to address the situation.
“We got an allocation of €340,000 at the start of the year for planning maintenance. We made an application to the Department to spend the balance specifically on Farrankelly estate and specifically on windows and doors. I'd say it's probably close to €200,000 that we have left to use from that funding allocation.
“It won't cover all the houses, but we'll do Phase 1 and then we'll continue with Phase 2 next year. We are under pressure to finish the work this year because we must spend the money.
“In relation to the property you referenced, we are making sure everything is above board before we sell it, and that is happening. The next batch will include Mill Road hopefully before the end of the year and that money will be ring-fenced for Farrankelly.
“We intend to make applications under planning and maintenance to finish out the windows and doors. It is hoped that windows and doors will be done throughout the entire estate certainly next year.
“We won't be stopping for Christmas. We will continue with the work because as soon as 1st January comes, we hope to get permission to spend extra funds as well.”
Before bringing the conversation to a close, Cllr Louise Fenlon Gaskin asked for reassurances that the timelines set out would be honoured.
“I'd like to see that there is a timeline put in place. And that's why I know from Cllr Scott following on that the money being put in place, that that timeline is that just some doors replaced before Christmas keeps all of us happy, tenants happy and us happy.”
“I'm just a bit concerned about that.” she added.