Councillors seek lower house prices

KILRUSH town councillors have urged the council executive to set realistic prices for perspective buyers of council houses in the town. At last Thursday’s June meeting of the town council, Councillor Liam O’Looney said that people feel part of a community if they own rather than rent their house.
“The council should set a realistic market value. Tenants have more ownership when they buy a house,” Councillor O’Looney said.
“In the last two housing estates that we’ve built, take-up has been very, very poor,” he suggested.
However, Kilrush town clerk John Corry said that the local authority do seek an independent valuation for houses and that purchasers are entitled to appeal the price set up the council.
He explained that Kilrush Town Council already has a Tenant Purchase Agreement in place, although councillors felt that the prices set under this scheme were prohibitive.
“We’re going nowhere, as we are, with the scheme at the moment,” Councillor O’Looney claimed.
Councillor Tom Prendeville asked why tenants were leaving their houses in the John Paul Estate.
“I have my own local information as to why people are leaving but whether it’s true or not, I don’t know,” he said.
“How are people expected to feel part of a community if all around them is dereliction and people are pulling out?” Councillor Prendeville queried. 
Councillor Stephen O’Gorman claimed that some Kilrush Town Council-owned houses had their rents increased by €27 recently.
“People are saying they should be paid to live in some of the houses,” he revealed.