North Tipp Councillors seeking solutions to 'massive' North Tipp housing problem

THE Councillors of Nenagh Municipal District discussed the housing crisis at length during their October monthly meeting and said they should do what they can to ease the problem in the region.
Cllr Seamus Morris pointed out that Nenagh Town is “strangled at the moment because of the lack of housing. One issue which I am keenly aware of is that a number of Polish people in the town are losing houses hand over fist now because the landlords are selling up. These people have been fantastic for Nenagh. We need to keep them. I think using the Stereame area on Limerick Road would be a very clever response to the issue. We could use that greenfield site to house people at very affordable rents.”
Cllr Ryan O'Meara said the councillors had a long discussion during the Tipperary County Council meeting about the crisis.
“It's at the forefront of every Councillor's mind," he said. A lack of affordable housing in Nenagh Town and in North Tipperary is the big issue. The housing problem is the number one issue driving people out of Ireland.
"I agree with Cllr Morris. The Stereame site is there. We have to make a move with it. I also think that the modular units in Thurles look excellent. Modular units can last up to 60 or 70 years. We should grab the bull by the horns. The Stereame site is a greenfield site but it's serviced and ready to go. The 20 or so modular units in Thurles are excellent. We should emulate that and erect more of them in Stereame.
"The Council has to do more to tackle the housing emergency. I have friends who are trying to get out of their family home and rent a place. They are in their late 20s and 30s, they are single, and they are finding it very hard to get out of the family home. The Council, rightly of course, looks on them as being not as much of a priority as a family going to be made homeless.  You know, I want to see people coming home. We need to bring young people home, bringing them back from Canada, Australia.”
Cllr Pamela Quirke O'Meara pointed out that North Tipperary is “going to lose many people who are in good jobs but can't afford a new home and they want to get on the property ladder. More one and two bed apartments are a huge necessity. Stereame is a fantastic location. We have to get working on it.”
Rosemary Joyce, Executive Officer, said she fully agreed that the lack of affordable housing is a big issue in North Tipp. “We are open to looking at all options in Stereame,” she remarked.