Council defends missed housing targets in Mayo

THE social housing delivery target in Mayo over the past three years was missed by 23%, with the blame being laid at the Approved Housing Body (AHB) sector.

Council management has been questioned on the shortfall of 90 homes not delivered during that period.

The target over the past three years was 395 houses, with 304 achieved, Councillor Michael Kilcoyne highlighted at the monthly meeting of Mayo County Council. It includes new builds, turnkey, part 5 and AHB properties.

At a time when there are over 200 people in emergency accommodation in the county, 'how can that be', he asked.

The missed 90 homes would look after most of the homeless in the county, noted Councillor Kilcoyne.

What went wrong and what steps are being taken to correct it, he demanded to know, citing other counties that achieved well above their targets (Laois 177% and Meath 169%).

Director of services Tom Gilligan said the council itself had delivered in Mayo but the Approved Housing Bodies had not.

There is unfortunately a low level of activity by AHBs in the county, he said, whereas they had delivered in the counties cited above (Laois 395 units, Meath 682).

The reality is that the large AHBs do not deliver in the west of Ireland, he said, and he has raised this with the department.

The council itself was maximising its resources to deliver and has asked for additional resources as well, added Mr. Gilligan, but they would like to see AHBs stepping up too.