'Power of local journalism' lauded as Cork council finally moves on vacant homes

A licence agreement has been put in place to allow for three long-vacant council homes in Glanmire to be occupied for the first time ever.

Last month, The Echo revealed that 7, 8 and 33 Copper Valley Heights in Riverstown, built in the mid-2000s, had never been lived in, with a neighbour saying that the floors are not even finished.

The homes were built as part of a private housing development but transferred to the ownership of Cork County Council. After the city boundary extension in 2019, they should have been transferred to Cork City Council.

Cork County Council deferred a Freedom of Information request on the properties to the city council, saying that they had the information sought, but Cork City Council refused the request, saying they did not have the information as it was with the county council.

A spokesperson for Cork County Council said this week: “These properties were tied up in a legal dispute over a number of years, relating to a developer going out of business and a charge on the properties from a financial institution.

“As such, these properties did not transfer automatically to the City Council at the time of the Cork City boundary extension.

“Our legal team are working to transfer the site to the city and are engaged with the Property Registration Authority of Ireland on removing the charge, which we are advised is just a formality at this stage. Once this is complete the properties will transfer across to their ownership.” 

They added that they had put a measure in place to allow Cork City Council to use the homes even before the transfer.

“In the interim, our legal team have put in place a licence agreement with the City Council that will allow them take possession, refurbish and let the units.” 

The information was provided to Sinn Féin TD Thomas Gould, who told The Echo: “This shows the power of local journalism. These homes had sat idle for years, it wasn’t until The Echo highlighted this that a licence agreement was reached.

“We need to see these homes returned to use quickly and families living in them – they will be lifechanging for families who need secure and affordable accommodation. We also need to know there are no other homes in this situation in Cork city.”