Councillors Approve 28 Unit Local Authority Development…Again!

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The green area where a new local authority housing estate will be built south of Connolly Park.

TRALEE Municipal District councillors met on Monday morning to approve a local authority housing development for the second time.

On Monday, September 4, Councillors unanimously approved the construction of a 28-unit estate, which will be located in the lands behind Scoil Eoin Primary School, adjacent to Stacks Villas and south of Connolly Park.

However, some local residents enquired as to why their submissions were not included in the Manager’s Report that came before councillors.

It emerged that due to an error on the Council’s part, a number of submissions, despite being submitted on time, did not come to the attention of the Council.

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The amended report with submissions was put before councillors again on Monday and was again approved unanimously. In the interim, Tom Sheehy from Kerry County Council has met with local residents to discuss their concerns.

There are considerable concerns about traffic in the area as it is being used as a drop-off and collection point for pupils going to Scoil Eoin, as there is a shortcut path to the school accessible from Connolly Park.

Tom Sheehy said the new junction at Connolly Park/Rock Street should reduce “the duration” of the congestion but conceded it would be difficult to reduce the congestion during the peak times of drop-off and collection.

Residents were also concerned about radon gas from any blasting of rock during construction and interruptions to electricity supply.

Mr Sheehy said there would be no blasting of rock and the contractor will have to give 48 hours notice to any interruption in electricity supply so residents can make alternative arrangements and the Council will help them where possible.

Councillor Pa Daly said it was a tough decision for councillors due to the concerns of residents, but said there is a housing crisis in the country and they would be neglecting their duty if they did not try to do something about it.

He and councillors Sam Locke, Toireasa Ferris and Terry O’Brien also expressed the wish that people on the housing list who have strong connections to Connolly Park and wish to return to live in the area, be considered for housing in the new estate.

Cllr Terry O’Brien said 90% of the people in Connolly Park are okay with the new development but they are concerned about the traffic there. He hopes people can show respect for local residents when driving and dropping off in the area.

One Comment

  1. Matty O'Leary says:

    “councillors Sam Locke, Toireasa Ferris and Terry O’Brien also expressed the wish that people on the housing list who have strong connections to Connolly Park and wish to return to live in the area”.

    Is that not discrimination or at least unfair, what is the point in having a housing list when number 98 can get a house before number 3 ( because they have local connections)? LOL.

    What if, you are from Poland or Nigeria and you have no connection what so ever to any area in Tralee. Under such circumstances every new housing estate would have similar situations is jumping the queue.

    Full fairness and transparency in the social housing list is required or it just becomes a list of discrimination or favouritism!

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