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Families are still in limbo at Crann Ard estate in Fermoy. Photo: Ellen Lynch

Despite promises from Cork County Council's Housing Department, that work would start in Crann Ard on May 6, so that 13 families could finally move into their homes, no workers have been on site and the families are still in limbo.

Speaking this week, after the housing department failed to issue the Fermoy Electoral Area Committee with a report following on from a recent deputation, resident Jessie Duggan told The Avondhu that she is not going to believe any promises until the keys to her home are in her hand.

The families have now been waiting a year and a half for their allocated houses in the housing estate in Fermoy, but Jessie said that their hopes have again been dashed with this latest promise of works falling through.

Works were due to start on May 6 and the plan was that the outstanding works in the estate would be completed within eight weeks and the families would finally be in their homes by the summer.

"It's very upsetting for all of us, they are only making fools out of us. They are telling us these stories and playing with our emotions," Jessie told The Avondhu, after saying that they were delighted when they thought that everything was solved and things would be moving in the right direction.

Last week when the contractors didn't turn up to the estate, the families began to fear the worst, but were told that there was an insurance problem and that contractors would be on site by Monday last.

"They are playing with people's lives," Jessie said, adding that the whole situation is very frustrating for the families, but she added that Cllr Noel McCarthy had been keeping them updated with any news as and when he had it.

At this week's meeting of the Fermoy Electoral Area Committee, members were expecting a report from the housing department, following on from the emotive deputation delivered by residents at the previous meeting.

Cllr Frank O'Flynn said that the notice that work would start on May 6 seems to have been an attempt to pacify the families, but in future before any date is given, all of the information needs to be clear.

Engineer Brendan O'Gorman, said that the housing department had been contacted and a report was requested, but no update had been provided.

Cllr Noel McCarthy said that in his time as a councillor, this is the first time that they have not gotten a report and he said that it was like rubbing salt in the wound, as they had nothing at all to tell the families.

"The housing department needs to clarify this straight away, it's totally unfair. We need to make sure that we have something back in writing within 48 hours," he said.

Cllr Tadhg O'Donovan was the spokesperson for the deputation and he said that they had hoped to have a report, which would answer many of the families lingering questions about their current dilemma.

He added that the families may have no other option now but to consider more extreme measures, as all other channels have been exhausted and they may have to consider a sit in at the council offices or at one of the clinics run by Housing Minister Jan O'Sullivan. 

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