Cllrs reluctantly agree to sale of serviced site

MEMBERS of the Municipal District of West Cork have agreed to the ‘disposal’ of a serviced site in Skibbereen, but not without reservations.

It was Cllr Joe Carroll (FF) who was the first to express his concern at the local authority meeting, but it was also Cllr Carroll who ultimately proposed that the site at Coronea be sold to the highest bidder who put in an offer of €35,000.

‘The idea was that these serviced sites would help people to come off the housing list,’ said the Fianna Fáil councillor. His colleague, Cllr Patrick Gerard Murphy (FF) was equally squeamish. Cllr Murphy said: ‘I know there are some serviced sites coming up in Bantry and I would prefer if they went to people who have a housing need.’

But Municipal Officer, Justin England, assured the councillors that the sale of local authority-owned serviced sites must abide by the 20-year rule, which means they have to live in it for 20 years, or face a claw-back penalty.

Cllr Hegarty said she hoped the right criteria would apply and that the sites go to ‘genuine cases.’