'Many are against the council's plans,' says Tipperary councillor

Concerns regarding plans to build social housing units in the village of Hollyford were raised during the Tipperary-Cahir-Cashel municipal district meeting, which was held in Tipperary Town. 

Councillor John O’Heney brought up the issue regarding plans for social housing units to be built on a site in the village of Hollyford, which is currently owned by Dairygold.

These social housing units would be built using funding from Saint Vincent de Paul.

O’Heney said that SVDP stated that they can fund 12 units but the county council would like to build a depot on this site and instead only build seven cluster housing units in the vicinity to the new depot.

O’Heney stated that he has been in contact with the community in Hollyford and “many are against the council's plans”.

OPPOSITION

Those opposing the council's plans would like to see 12 units built and no depot next to the residential area.

Councillor Liam Browne seconded this and spoke about the need for more social housing in response to the County Council. The council previously stated that they would not consider Hollyford for 12 units of social housing as there is not enough need for that many units to be built on the site.

Browne questioned why the council planned to build a depot when “there's a need for houses”. It was brought up by councillors that if 12 units of social housing were built there would be no question of whether they would be filled.

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With a growing lack of social housing around the country it is hard to believe these units would lay empty if built.

A county council representative responded that housing was “not a matter for a municipal district meeting and is instead a matter for the 'housing for all' plan”.

However, Fine Gael councillor Mary Hanna Hourigan said she had heard from her constituents that

“people are not prepared to move to Hollyford” to move into the extra units.

MEETING

A statement issued by the Hollyford Community Council states that a meeting held in the village recently saw a unanimous vote to use the whole site for only social housing units. Councillors at the recent council meeting mentioned that the community in Hollyford was concerned when no child was enrolled in Junior infants in Kilcommon National School in the village this year.

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The Tipperary County Council roads section which would like to purchase the premises to build a new depot and are being asked by the community group to find another site for this depot.

O'Heney stated that a letter of support from the council is needed urgently for SVDP to avail of government funding for the project, but this is seeming difficult to get for the time being. Councillors also mentioned health concerns residents of Hollyford had in relation to the housing units being built in such close proximity to a county council depot. O'Heney urged the council to promptly provide a letter of support for the plans.