Up to eight homes were taken under Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) by Mayo County Council for the construction of the new 20 km stretch of the new N5 dual carriageway between Turlough and Westport.

Prices in the region of a half a million euro were paid for some of the houses, and now the perfectly good homes are boarded up and empty and appear derelict.

At this week’s monthly meeting of the Westport/Belmullet Municipal District, Fine Gael councillor Peter Flynn asked now that the road construction is completed, when will these good homes be ready to again be occupied. He said in the midst of a severe housing shortage in term of social, affordable and private houses, it is unacceptable to leave these properties vacant, as a number of the homes “CPOed” are not on the new road and could be quickly turned around by the local authority.

Director of Services Tom Gilligan says the process of getting the houses back on the market either for social or private housing is protracted, and said two houses “CPOed” for the construction of the new stretch of the N26 at Cloongullane Bridge, a year down the line, are well along the process.

Cllr Flynn says that’s too long in light of the need for housing and he spoke to Midwest News editor Teresa O’Malley about why he wants the process speeded up....