Cribbin calls for action on empty Edenderry homes
Fine Gael Cllr Noel Cribbin is highlighting the potential of vacant homes in Edenderry in solving the town’s housing crisis.
Cllr Cribbin outlined how he has been in communication with Deputy Richard Bruton in regard to the issue.
“The vacant homes issue in Edenderry is a bugbear of mine and one that I have constantly raised at both local Municipal District meetings and at Offaly County Council meetings.
"Prior to Christmas, Deputy Richard Bruton wrote to me that the ‘vacant home’ issue is one that Fine Gael is committed to pursuing in 2022. I have been in contact with Deputy Bruton explaining how bad it is in Edenderry and that I would do a review with photographic evidence.
"I also put forward the suggestion that Edenderry could act as a pilot project for what could be done to improve vacant homes in towns and villages throughout Ireland,” he explained
Cllr Cribbin undertook an ad-hoc review of the vacant housing in the town recently and was shocked to discover 60 empty and derelict homes.
"What shocked me most is that there are so many people in Edenderry unable to access housing due to lack of availability and high house prices. On the other side of it, I would estimate that none of these properties in their current state would be worth less than €120,000 to €125,000. There are not many of us who could say no to a lump sum of that size.
He outlined that help is already available, stating that the council offers loans of up to €60,000 for refurbishment on the condition that the houses can be rented by the council to home people on their housing list.
“In addition, there is also help with retrofitting old property either through the SEAI or through the Edenderry Carbon Footprint Challenge which is a project we in Edenderry Tidy Towns are currently undertaking, where we will help homeowners to get the best grants and costs to retrofit their properties.”
He urged the owners of these homes to come forward.
The local public representative said he would be seeking urgent action with Fine Gael and offered assistance to anyone who owns such houses in Edenderry to contact him confidentially to discuss their options.