There’s still no joy for the 13 families offered houses by the Munster Co-operative in the Crann Ard housing development in Fermoy back last November.  They’re unable to move into their homes because of unfinished works on the estate. A letter from Cork County Council’s housing department circulated by NABCO to the 13 last week proved to be cold comfort, revealing that a response from the bondholder about releasing money to do the works is still awaited.

“The reason that the properties have not been occupied is due to the non completion of roads and services at the development,” the letter advised. The delay was not foreseen by the Council at the time it was leasing the properties to NABCO, it revealed.

The letter went on to advise that there has been ongoing contact between the council’s estates engineer and planning department and the developer/bondholder to try and resolve the matter. The development was recently inspected and the planning department was in contact with the bondholder’s representatives. The council is awaiting a response from the bondholder. “It is hoped that the response will then facilitate to a speedy resolution to the issues outstanding,” the letter stated.

It went on to assure the prospective tenants that “every effort is being, and wlll continue to be made, to enable a speedy resolution.”

Once a resolution is agreed, NABCO will be advised and when the council has a timeline for the completion of the works, prospective tenants can begin to make arrangements to take up tenancy of the houses, the housing department further advised. “We very much regret the inconvenience that this has caused to all those involved,” the letter concluded.

Local councillors Noel McCarthy and Tadhg O’Donovan are not at all happy with the response. Both have raised the matter on an ongoing basis with the council – Cllr McCarthy via the northern area committee and Cllr O’Donovan through Fermoy Town Council.

“It’s been 12 months now and they haven’t even secured a response from the bondholder regarding the outstanding works,” Cllr O’Donovan pointed out, adding: “There is an obligation on the council to resolve this. The situation cannot be allowed to continue. The council must accept responsibility, carry out the works and then take it up with the bondholder.”  Cllr McCarthy agreed. “It’s wrong how these people have been treated. The council must act without further delay to get this sorted,” he stressed.