A BUNCRANA councillor
says he is "outraged" that no affordable housing was
delivered in 2007 to help cash-strapped families.
Councillor Daren Lalor called for the delivery of
affordable housing in the town as a matter of
priority this year.
He quoted from Buncrana Town Council's Budget for
2008 which states that 'negotiations will begin in
early 2008 with developers in relation to the
provision of social and affordable housing under
Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000'.
Cllr. Lalor said: "Yet back in February 2007 at a
monthly meeting, I received the same response from a
tabled question so it's quite clear that no progress
whatsoever has been made on this issue."
The Sinn Féin councillor said that he "constantly"
raised the issue with council officials both
privately and through written submissions in the
chamber.
"Back in February 2007, nine developments had been
granted planning permission and all of them are
required to comply with the Part V of the Planning
and Development Act 2000. Again in May 2007, I
received a written response from the council that
enforcement proceedings would be instituted if a
satisfactory conclusion is not reached," he said.
"The reality is there are young working people
within our community who, due to the steady rise (of
prices) in the housing market, cannot purchase a
home. It is they who have been let down by this
council. We have failed them at a time when Buncrana
has seen the largest growth in new housing in its
history." |
