NEW housing developments should be finished to a standard that will allow estates to be taken in charge by the local authority immediately, according to the Cathaoirleach of the Shannon Municipal District.

Councillor Michael Begley was speaking at a meeting of the local authority where the long-awaited taking in charge of Deerpark in Sixmilebrige was discussed.

“New developments should be finished to the taking in charge point at construction,” he insisted saying this is “the only way to solve” potential issues for housing estates.

Following a request for an update on Deerpark by Councillor John Crowe the council confirmed a proposal for the local authority to take the estate in charge is to be brought before a meeting of the Shannon Municipal District for formal resolution before the end of this year.

However, the council has said a funding source needs to be identified to carry out works required at the development.

Residents of Deerpark, Sixmilebridge, have been waiting a number of years for the estate to be taken in charge, Councillor Crowe outlined.

Kieran O’Donnell, Administrative Officer, Planning told the meeting, “The Planning Department are progressing this Taking in Charge application and plan to advertise it before the end of August 2022.

“Assuming that there are no objections raised as part of the public consultation process, this proposal will be brought back to a meeting of Shannon Municipal District before the end of 2022, for a formal resolution to take the development in charge.

“The members should note that there are works required to this development and as there are no funds available to carry out these works at the current time, a funding source will need to be identified in the future.”

Councillor Crowe welcomed the response and hoped the works needed will not hold up the long-awaited taking in charge.

Councillor PJ Ryan seconded the motion, saying this particular area is “an unusual situation” as the initial planning applications were for one-off houses rather than a housing estate.

He commended local residents and community organisations for their efforts in applying to have the estate taken in charge.

Councillor Gerry Flynn agreed that the whole estate was constructed “like a cluster development”, saying there is a lot of work still to be done.

Councillor Ryan said the biggest issue is water ponding and he hoped that works can be done and the estate taken in charge “sooner rather than later”.