Developers must be forced to deliver turnkey properties on time - Troy
Local Fianna Fáil TD Robert Troy has described delays in the delivery of turnkey social housing units as unacceptable.
The Longford-Westmeath TD said some private property developers are failing to finish housing units more than two years after they were due to be completed.
He has written to Westmeath County Council asking them to outline the measures it is taking to ensure the delivery of turnkey developments in Mullingar.
“I am very concerned at the huge delay in delivery of the units at namely at Ashe Road, Mullingar, The Respond houses at Charlestown, Mullingar and remaining units at the old Shopping Centre, Oakcrest, Mullingar,” Deputy Troy said.
“There are delays of up to two years on some of these projects. Ashe Road was due to be finished in June 2022 - it is now two years on and it is still not known when it will be completed.
"At Charlestown the original delivery date was due to be September 2023. 12 of the units were completed at the end of last year. The remaining units are expected to be delivered next month - one year later than the agreement.
"There have been ongoing issues at Oakcrest and at this point the council does not know when the units will be completed.
“It is completely unacceptable that developers who sign contracts to deliver housing within a specified timeframe are not delivering these much-needed properties on time. Developers have certainty in terms of cost and payment on completion while people are left waiting on these homes.
“There is no justification for any delays. Local authorities who enter into contracts with private developers need to ensure that the units are delivered as per the agreed timeline and that if they find themselves in a situation where the developers are not complying with their agreement that they take action against these developers.”
Deputy Troy's party colleague Minister for Housing Darragh O’Brien confirmed, in response to a parliamentary question, that it is the responsibility of the local authorities to ensure the delivery of agreed turnkey properties.
Minister O’Brien said: “Where agreement is reached between a private developer and a local authority on a scheme of development through turnkey acquisition, the manner of conveyance will be by way of the standard ‘Contract for Sale’. In its role as a contracting party, it is a matter for the local authority to enforce the terms and conditions of such contracts, in order to secure the delivery of the agreed turnkey units, as written in the contract.”