Calls to take action on dereliction in Cork

THE impact of the housing crisis on those working in the healthcare sector, property vacancy, and dereliction were among the issues discussed at a public meeting in Cork on Thursday night.

Around 40 people attended the meeting in Togher Community Centre, which was organised by Labour Party local election candidate for the Cork City South West ward, Laura Harmon.

Speakers included campaigners Frank O’Connor and Jude Sherry; a nurse representing the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation, Janet Baby Joseph; and former Labour Party leader, Alan Kelly.

Speaking to The Echo after the meeting, Ms Harmon said the housing crisis was having a direct impact on healthcare workers and other key workers.

“When I canvass in Bishopstown, Glasheen, and Togher, I regularly meet people who work in healthcare who tell me of the struggles staff face with the inability to find affordable accommodation,” said Ms Harmon.

“With record levels of homelessness in Cork and 700 derelict and vacant properties within a 2km radius of the city centre, urgent action must be taken to address this crisis,” she added.

Ms Harmon added that Ireland — and Cork — needs to scale up ambition when it comes to building homes, repurposing derelict properties, and supporting renters.

Jude Sherry and Frank O’Connor, who run the Derelict Cork project, told the meeting that Ireland is in a uniquely disturbing situation, having extremely high levels of vacant and derelict buildings in urban environments while enduring the country’s worst-ever housing crisis.

“We need to get serious about tackling the epidemic of dereliction now, starting with identifying and registering all affected properties and charging the appropriate taxes and levies,” said Ms Sherry.

Ms Sherry and her partner, Mr O’Connor, run Anois, a design consultancy firm concerned with social justice and sustainability.

“The most sustainable building is the building that already exists, and these unused buildings offer the best opportunity to create more homes cheaply and quickly, more so than new builds,” said Mr O’Connor.