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With the developer gone bust, Cork County Council is trying to draw down the bond from the bank to fund the works. Photo: Ellen Lynch

"A disgrace. A scandal. A cover up." That's how Fermoy town councillor Tadhg O'Donovan described the Crann Ard situation which has left 13 people allocated houses in the estate by the Munster Co-op, in limbo for the past eight months. Munster Co-op won't allow the tenants to move in to the private estate because works need to be done. With the developer gone bust, Cork County Council is trying to draw down the bond from the bank to fund the works.

Cllr O'Donovan had tabled a motion for the Fermoy Town Council monthly meeting on Tuesday night calling for an up-to-date on the matter. Town clerk Pauline Moriarty, told him she'd been informed that negotiations between the parties were ongoing regarding the completion of snagging works. Cllr Noel McCarthy outlined the situation some of the 13 had been left in, having changed their children's schools in anticipation of the move and being able to stay on at their present private rented accommodation, thanks only to obliging landlords. "It's a disgrace how they are being treated," he said.

Cllr Seamus Coleman said it was an awful situation the 13 should never have been put in. Cllr Noel Barnes described it as 'a travesty' which was 'going on for far too long'.

Cllr John Murphy pointed out that there was still a lot of work to be done on the estate while Cllr O'Donovan was incensed at the lack of progress. "There's no joined up thinking going on. To deny someone a house for so long is disgraceful," he thundered. He said the onus was on them to write to housing minister Jan O'Sullivan to get the delay investigated.

Councillors Seamus Coleman and Colette Dolan-Moore supported such a move. "There should be an acknowledgment of their failings so that there's no repetition," Cllr Coleman stressed. Cllr Murphy pointed out that such an investigation could take years and would only draw out the matter. Cllr O'Donovan said the investigation could be done separately from a solution being worked on to move the present impasse. He amended his motion to write to the Minister asking her to investigate. It was seconded by Cllr McCarthy.

Cllr McCarthy then asked town manager Katherine Walsh to request the county housing officer to write to the 13 people, advising them that talks are ongoing and confirming that they won't lose their place on the council's waiting list for housing. "It'd give them some peace of mind. They've heard nothing," he pointed out. The town manager agreed to take the matter up with the head of housing, Mary Ryan. 

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