Minister of State Sean Sherlock said this week that for people promised houses in the Crann Ard estate in Fermoy to be able to move into their homes, the AIB needs to release the developer’s bond.

“I am concerned that AIB would need to make an internal decision speedily to allow for money to be released to carry out the works required,” he stated.

13 people on Cork County Council’s waiting list were allocated the houses on the private estate a year ago last November by the Munster Co-operative NABCO. They subsequently decided they couldn’t allow the people to move into the houses until unfinished works on the estate were carried out. That’s despite the fact that one of the women promised a house there is already in a private rented house on the estate.

Others have outlined the difficulties caused by the delay, saying they are at the mercy of understanding landlords in extending leases on an ad hoc basis, that they have moved children from schools in areas they were renting in to prepare for the move and that they have furniture stored with relatives for over a year, waiting to move. A number have spoken of the stress of their situation, saying the uncertainty has them anxious and upset.

The Minister’s comments about AIB followed a meeting he had with the would-be residents last Friday evening at which they outlined their concerns and pressed for his intervention to speed up the process.

At Monday’s meeting of the Fermoy Electoral Area Committee of the county council, members were told that a contractor has been appointed and will begin work shortly on sufficient works to allow residents to move in. While he welcomed the news at the time, Cllr Noel McCarthy who has long championed their cause, said afterwards that he still has lingering concerns and, at this stage, won’t believe it until he sees some work being done there.

“The report to the council is positive in that it facilitates roadworks which will allow proper access but the bond needs to be drawn on so people can move into the houses,” Minister Sherlock said. He intends making contact with AIB and applying pressure on them to release the bond.