Cork housing: Work to begin on city council scheme on Barrack Street

A CORK City Council housing development is set to move forward on Barrack Street.

There had been delays to the 32-home project moving forward due to some legal issues, however, Councillor Mick Finn has said construction could get underway by the end of August.

“This is great news for the Street and area but also for those on the housing waiting list. When you look at the progress made on White Street, which will start to be allocated later this month, it shows what can be done when things go smoothly,” Councillor Finn said.

However, there have been delays in retrofitting some homes nearby, which Mr Finn described as “another huge disappointment in a series of let-downs’ for the residents.” 

“News that the retrofitting of flats on Noonan Road and St Finbarr’s Road has been deferred as a result of the Covid-19 crisis is hugely deflating,” he said.

“The local councillors have tried to prioritise this for years and we thought we were on the cusp of progress. 

"I have been informed this week that a start date of 2020 has been pushed out to 2021 as applications are being made to the Climate Action Fund to accelerate the proposals.

“It is all now subject to funding in the post-Covid economy but we will insist that this work is done. Other units across the city have been done and these should be priority,” he added.

Mr Finn also said that a lot of the issues with housing faced by the council are actually down to Government.

“The Housing Department of Cork City Council has done great work in recent years in getting new and old houses into circulation.

“All the promises of political parties at election time now need to be delivered and the excuses and politicking of recent years should be replaced with bricks and mortar to get housing build volumes up,” he concluded.