This article is from page 27 of the 2008-09-09 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 27 JPG
A REPAIR works scheme for dozens of homes in Ennis has ground to a halt after funding for the programme “dried up”.
Even as Ennis Town Council nears completion of phase one of a reme- dial works scheme on the council’s housing stock, Town Enginneer Tom Tiernan has said that he “wouldn’t hold his breath” in anticipation of the commencement of phase two.
Mr Tiernan was speaking at the September meeting of Ennis Town Soniete
He said the council had success- fully pursued an application of €4.1
million to carry out remedial works in 46 houses in Shalee Drive and Gordon Drive.
“We have submitted an applica- tion for the second phase and we got a response from the department that more or less told us that fund- ing wasn’t available due to the down- turn’, said Mr Tiernan.
He added, “I’m not in a position to be able to tell people when they might be eligible for the scheme. All we can do is try to push our case with the department. But, I wouldn’t hold my breath.”
“All indications from the depart- ment are that funds have dried up SIRS TUBELOr-vOLO NYA
The scheme mainly involves repair- ing broken doors and windows, and dealing with other structural issues. The works do not cover repairs to central heating systems as that is cov- ered under a separate programme.
Raising the issue, Independent councillor Frankie Neylon asked Mr Tiernan for an updated report on the repairs programme.
He said, “Some people are being told they have to pay to have their windows fixed and others say they elena
Over the next month could we get a report on the type of repairs needed? There is a lot of confusion out there especially in the Cloughleigh area.
People see the work being done in Gordon Drive and then it moves somewhere else. They are just won- dering if the council are going to do this for all the houses”.
Mr Tiernan said there was no emer- gency funding available, but that help would be provided to households in “exceptional circumstances”’.
“We are dealing with the replace- ment of windows as best we can. When there is a need we will respond as positively as possible. We will look at exceptional circumstances. We are sympathetic to people in a lot of cases. We are trying to stretch our resources. We will see what we can Coe