Twenty-two new homeless presentations in Mayo last month

THERE were 22 new homeless presentations to Mayo County Council in January.

Some 169 adults and 62 children were in private emergency accommodation last month.

The increase was noted by Councillor Harry Barrett at a meeting of the local authority where he said he believes that to be a new record.

And notice to quit figures are increasing each quarter, and they will be hugely increased again at the end of this quarter, he warned.

The councillor has again urged that tackling dereliction needs to be ramped up to return properties for use as homes.

The council is to borrow €2 million to fund the CPO of derelict sites across the county to bring them back into the market.