Councillors erupt into war of words after former Cork lord mayor votes against social housing scheme
Labour councillor Peter Horgan said he was incensed by Independent councillor Kieran McCarthy's criticism of the "bland design" for four apartments on a vacant overgrown corner site at the junction of Boreenmanna Rd and Clanrickarde Estate, which attracted over 40 submissions during its Part 8 public consultation.
'Units like this being rejected because the design is bland?' Mr Horgan asked.
'I'm sorry housing isn't sexy enough for you to vote for it. That is not a reason to vote against housing.
I find it insulting to those who worked on the scheme and to those on the housing list
The deputy lord mayor, Green Party councillor Honore Kamegni, and Fine Gael councillor Des Cahill also voted against it, with Mr Cahill criticising the way the Part 8 consultation was initially presented to councillors.
Mr Kamegni said: 'Just because there is a housing crisis, doesn't mean we have to build anywhere.'
Officials said they listened to concerns and omitted the second floor of one of the units, reducing the height from three to two storeys, to deliver two two-bedroom ground floor units, one two-bed unit, and one one-bed unit on the first floor — the maximum changes possible on a tight corner site.
Councillors eventually voted 22 to seven to approve the scheme.
They also approved Part 8 planning for 56 social homes on the former Topps sweet factory in Ballincollig, which has lain vacant since the company ceased operations in the town in 1998.
Design concerns
Councillors were told the scheme will be named Innishmore Gardens and comprise of one four-bed house, 17 three-bed houses, 12 one-bed apartments, 12 two-bed duplex units, seven two-bed apartments, and seven three-bed duplex units. The scheme will also provide 58 parking spaces.
It will range in height from two storeys to three storeys, and will be carried out for the council by way of a project agreement with OBR Construction Group.
Sinn Féin councillor Joe Lynch, who was raised and lives in Innishmore, said he wants to see the housing development succeed and integrated into the existing community.
Independent councillor Albert Deasy criticised the council for not taking on board certain design concerns he said he expressed before the scheme was published for public consultation, and he called for it to be referred back to the local area committee.
However, council chief executive Valerie O'Sullivan insisted there were no Part 8 proposals before councillors that had not been properly consulted on.
'Most derelict street in Cork'
In Blackpool, councillors approved the demolition of a council-owned derelict two-storey house at 24 Thomas Davis St for a three-storey building with two units — one two-bed maisonette over a one-bed apartment, each with their own door access at ground floor level.
Fianna Fáil councillor John Sheehan welcomed the proposal for a street he said was once 'the most derelict street in Cork'.
'It once had 23 derelict sites, but that has now been reduced by half thanks to the work of the council. It's great to see the street coming back to life,' he said.
Read More
Plans for over 360 new homes in Carrigaline resubmitted to Cork County Council
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Irish Sun
5 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Illegal migrant LIVE STREAMS step by step channel crossing & boasts ‘my dream was to come here' from 4 star asylum hotel
AN ILLEGAL migrant boasted on TikTok of crossing the Channel by dinghy, saying: 'Tell your friends to come.' The man racked up nearly a million views with a step-by-step guide to crossing the Channel on a small boat — and then told others to follow him as he revelled in his taxpayer-funded asylum hotel. 7 A migrant posted a step-by-step guide to crossing the Channel on a small boat Credit: Tiktok 7 Alexandra420, pictured above in a life-jacket, smirks in a video from the dinghy 7 The smug migrant shows TikTok fans his view from the window of his asylum hotel Credit: Tiktok 7 He also took part in a live Q&A with his followers Known as Alexandra420, he said his wish had come true and that this was 'the best place' during a TikTok livestream at his free accommodation near Heathrow. His taunts come as figures reveal 50,271 people have crossed in a small boat since Labour and Sir Keir Starmer took office last year. Last night Reform leader Nigel Farage MP told The Sun: 'This is yet another total humiliation for our country. "The Prime Minister's soft-touch approach and refusal to address the root cause of illegal Channel crossings has turned the UK into a global laughing stock.' READ MORE ON ILLEGAL MIGRANTS SEA CHANGE How Med island once swamped by illegal migrants has seen arrivals shrink to ZERO TikTok influencer Alexandra, who has 70,000 followers, left Calais in a dinghy at around 4am on Saturday. His first video was a 13-second clip from the middle of the Channel, showing a French lifeboat alongside his dinghy, which was full of fellow migrants. The next clip showed him grinning in an orange life jacket and pointing to the sky. A third video, bizarrely set to the theme tune of US TV drama Prison Break, showed the vessel surrounded by massive freight ships, while in a fourth he dipped his designer trainers in the water. He was one of 435 arrivals on Saturday, and was taken in by Border Force officials to be processed at Manston, Kent. He was then bussed to the four-star Crowne Plaza hotel in West Drayton, near Heathrow. The migrant, thought to be from Afghanistan, treats TikTok viewers to a tour of his room, which had two single beds and a double plus an en-suite bathroom. He also shows them the view from his window. Small boat crossings under Labour are on brink of hitting 50,000 - one illegal migrant every 11 mins since the election Triumphing in his good fortune, he said: 'This is dedicated to those haters who were happy thinking we either drowned or ended up dead.' In a later livestream he claimed their boat began to deflate halfway through the crossing and could have capsized if Border Force officials had not rescued them. He said: 'It was dangerous. Our boat sank. It was punctured. The water came from the inside of the boat. "On the other side, three people pumped the water. If the British boats hadn't come in an hour, we would have been in trouble.' Those who want to come, this is the best place TikTok influencer Alexandra He then encouraged others to pay thousands to people-smugglers to make the same perilous journey. He ranted: 'I risked my life, I spent my money, I came. Your country is not your mother. "Those who want to come, this is the best place. Don't be stingy. Your country is not your father, that you are so stingy. Live your life. 'Tell your four friends to come. Why are you so stingy? Being stingy is not good for God. You see, I risked my life! Why don't you come? My wish was to come to this hotel and live. I came here just for this.' 7 Fellow illegal migrants can be seen in the boat in another clip 7 The migrant's room has two single beds, a double and an en-suite Credit: Tiktok He also revealed how he beat warnings of deportation, claiming he had been told by UK officials: 'If I send you to France, you won't have any problem.' But he replied: 'I will commit suicide.' He went on: 'I just said it, and he got angry. I told them, and right there, I swore an oath.' Spinning on his chair with his arms in the air, he then shouted: 'Welcome to London!' It's disgraceful that illegal immigrants are saying it's their dream to be put up in a hotel Chris Philp In total, the migrant posted eight videos before taking part in a live Q&A with his followers in the Afghan dialect Pashto. His viewers appeared to include other asylum seekers in different hotels across the country. One told the host, who flashed his purple room key card, that the Crowne Plaza was 'a nice place'. The videos had a combined 870,000 views before being taken down during a second livestream when The Sun alerted TikTok. 7 The Heathrow Crowne Plaza has been housing migrants for more than four years, and has an 8ft security fence Credit: Dan Charity Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp blasted: 'It is disgraceful that illegal immigrants are saying it is their dream to be put up in a hotel, all paid for by the British taxpayer. 'This is a sick joke. Anyone coming to the UK illegally must be swiftly deported.' Dozens of migrants have made social media posts celebrating their arrival in the UK. The Heathrow Crowne Plaza used to cost guests £120 a night — but has been housing migrants for more than four years, and has an 8ft security fence. Facilities include a luxury swimming pool with steam room and sauna, gym, an Irish bar, two large restaurants and a theatre. More illegal arrivals were brought in on packed buses yesterday alongside vans delivering food. One Afghan man told The Sun: 'I came to Britain a few days ago on a boat from France. This hotel is nice and we get fed and given clothes. Life is nice here so far.' A TikTok spokeswoman said it has a zero-tolerance approach to content promoting people-smuggling. A Home Office spokeswoman said it is unacceptable 'to promote the criminal services of people-traffickers or for social media companies to allow it'. Laws are being brought in to make it easier to prosecute, she added.
Irish Times
13 hours ago
- Irish Times
Northern Ireland ‘crucial' as British chancellor looks to ‘all parts' of UK for growth
Northern Ireland is 'absolutely crucial' for the United Kingdom and will contribute to the chances of growth in the country as a whole, the British chancellor has said during a visit to Belfast. Rachel Reeves , the Labour finance minister, made her first trip to the North as chancellor and was asked whether she considers Northern Ireland to be an 'economic basket case'. As part of her trip, Ms Reeves visited the filmmaking facilities at Studio Ulster and also paid tribute to Northern Ireland's defence sector. Studio Ulster, which sits on the shores of Belfast Lough, was officially opened in June in what have been termed the world's most advanced virtual production facilities spanning 75,000 square feet. READ MORE Speaking at the studios, Ms Reeves said: 'Northern Ireland is absolutely crucial for the United Kingdom, including for our growth prospects. 'We've got here, at Studio Ulster, not just the best facilities in the UK, but the best facilities in the world, for a part of our economy that is globally growing at such a fast rate. 'This is the best place in the world to make those investments, to start a business, to grow a business, whether that's in video games, or TV, or film. 'That's really exciting and we benefit hugely from the thriving creative industry sector in Northern Ireland.' She continued: 'As we step up that defence spending to 3 per cent, and then 3.5 per cent, of GDP in due course, that will mean more good jobs, paying decent wages in Northern Ireland. 'My economic belief, my strong belief, is that all parts of the country should be able to contribute to economic growth and prosperity, and all parts of the country should benefit from economic growth and opportunities. 'That has not been the case for far too long in the UK.' Ms Reeves was due to meet deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly and Finance Minister John O'Dowd later on Tuesday. The chancellor also said that farmers with agricultural property worth more than £3 million (€3.47m) 'should make a contribution' in tax, following protests earlier this year against a change in policy. Asked whether she had 'sympathy for farmers who are now facing an inheritance tax bill', Ms Reeves told reporters her government had not increased taxes on 'ordinary working people', but went on: 'If you've got agricultural property worth less than £3 million and you own it jointly with a partner, you'll pay no inheritance tax when you pass that farm on. 'But I do believe that if you do have agricultural property worth more than £3 million, you should make a contribution... the inheritance tax on that is half the rate that anybody else pays, just 20%, and it's payable over 10 years interest-free.'–PA
RTÉ News
18 hours ago
- RTÉ News
Concern raised over group patrolling Belfast streets
Concern has been raised over social media videos of a group patrolling streets and confronting migrants in east Belfast. The group calls itself the 'East Belfast Nightwatch First Division' and some of the videos have over 250,000 views on social media. The PSNI said it is aware of number of videos circulating on social media and does not tolerate any type of vigilante activity. In a statement, Chief Inspector Dunne cautioned "any individual or group against taking the law into their own hands". "It is the responsibility of the police service to enforce the law in Northern Ireland and we are committed to supporting the needs of all of our diverse communities," he said. "We will robustly review and deal with any offences reported to us." A local Green Party councillor said the videos are "feeding into the recent tensions across this island". Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Councillor Brian Smyth said the group ask mostly non-white people for identification and for their addresses. "Do you think people fee safe here with a bunch of lawless thugs who have no authority, no background checks who are going around accusing people, threatening them for merely existing for being in a public place?," he asked. Cllr Smyth said he has been in contact with the PSNI but also called for political action. Meanwhile, Justice Minister Naomi Long said there is "absolutely no place for hate in whatever form it takes and towards whichever part of our society". "Such threatening and violent behaviour will not be tolerated and those carrying out such threats will be pursued and brought before the courts," she said. "The Department of Justice, the criminal justice system or legislation alone cannot solve the underlying issues which drive this behaviour. "It is both a societal and community problem and I will continue to work with Executive colleagues to tackle the issues which allow hate and intolerance to occur in the first place."
