Talks 'ongoing' over apartments lying vacant above Macroom store

DISCUSSIONS are underway between the owner of 20 apartments which have lain empty above the Dunnes Stores shop in Macroom since it opened in 2005 and an approved housing body, the Department of Housing confirmed this week.

The apartments are a mix of one and two-bedroomed units and were built as part of the complex as a condition of the planning permission granted to allow the Dunnes Stores complex at Fair Green near the town centre to be built.

In a statement in response to a query from The Echo, a department spokesperson said that ‘discussions between an approved housing body and the private owner of these properties are ongoing’.

“While not involved in these discussions the department is hopeful that they will conclude as quickly as possible,” said the spokesperson.

“Tackling vacancy is a key priority for government and a suite of measures have been introduced under Housing for All to address vacancy and increase the pace at which properties are brought back into use.”

It is understood that the housing units, when they become available, will be earmarked for those on the Cork County Council social housing list.

A high level meeting took place in recent days regarding the transfer of the ownership of the housing units, according to a well placed source.

The empty apartments have been the subject of appeals by current Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, who said he saw no reason why they shouldn’t be occupied.

Mr Varadkar was speaking to reporters in May 2022 when opening an extension at a Macroom factory building wooden frames for homes.

“I understand that these 20 apartments over Dunnes are there for quite some time and I really think the company should make them available for people to live in.

“They may have their reasons as to why they’re doing that, but there must be a way around that,” said Mr Varadkar.

“We can’t have a situation that there are 20 empty apartments in any town in Ireland when so many people are struggling to find somewhere to live.”