Families hopes of being ‘home for Christmas’ dashed

Seventy Meath families who were expecting to be in their new homes in Clonee for Christmas have had their hopes dashed.

The ongoing delay in allowing Meath Co Council to take over a 70-unit apartment block in Clonee, which was allocated for social housing, has been described as an absolute disgrace by Cllr Nick Killian, who first highlighted the issue last March.

“This week I have had many tearful conversations with prospective tenants who are heartbroken, believing that they would have moved into their apartments for Christmas.”

Some of the families had been told they were allocated homes in the development last year and have been anxiously waiting to move into their long-awaited new homes.

Cllr Killian has been lobbying to have this project completed and handed over to the councils housing department.

He said a dispute between Uisce Eireann and the developer has not been fully resolved leaving the 70 families without a home this Christmas.

“It will be late January before the units allocated to housing applicants start moving into these beautiful apartments in Clonee.

“I have requested Meath Co Council to write all the allocated tenants to outline that it will be January or February 2025 before they can move to Clonee. Meath Co Council allocated the units on the basis of a handover that was delayed by the parties involved in the construction of this development.”

One woman, who was informed in September 2023 that she was allocated one of the units spoke about the nerve-wracking wait, some months ago and she still has no idea when or if she will be moving into the apartment.

“I was so delighted when they told me I had been allocated one of the units. I had been on the housing list for five years,” she explained.

“I started planning and preparing for moving in. I was told I had been allocated the unit last September and then I got official written notice last March. I thought it was just fantastic that we would finally have a place of our own, but my life has been on hold since.

“I was first told that we would be in by Easter, but then I was told August or September but there still is no news. They seem to have been finished months ago, so I don't know what the delay is.”

Uisce Eireann has been approached for comment.