[Sinn Fein]

4 April 2001

MacManus - Labour party seek to deny housing to those in need

Sinn Fein Cllr Chris MacManus has accused the Labour party in Sligo of seeking to deny housing to the almost 700 families currently on Sligo Corporation s housing list. Speaking after two Labour Party Councillors, Alderman Declan Bree and Cllr Veronica Cawley s walk-out from Monday s Sligo Corporation meeting, Cllr MacManus also accused them of reneging on the people of Sligo and particularly their own voters. Alderman Bree, due to his constant negativity, is being called the Ian Paisley of Sligo politics No, No and No.

Cllr MacManus said: All the councillors are well aware that there is a chronic need for social housing in Sligo. At Monday s meeting, we spent a considerable part of it discussing how the Corporation intends to alleviate it. Alderman Bree accused anyone and everyone of being to blame for the housing shortage. However, when we came to discuss an actual proposal to construct 25 much needed houses, Alderman Bree and his colleague walked out because we wouldn t delay the decision any further.

The reality is quite simple. A small number of groups who had reservations in relation to the rezoning of one acre of land were afforded the right by law to make oral submissions in relation to their objections. Sinn Fein fully encourage such participation in the planning process. However, only two such submissions were made. The time had come after several months discussion to make a concrete decision. The Labour party, as with a previous housing scheme, chose to oppose it.

If Alderman Bree is so enamoured with the democratic process, why did he not stay at the meeting and argue the Labour party position. It is quite obvious that the Labour party stand in relation to the green areas is now in a shambles following their councillors decision not to vote against the re-zoning of this one acre.

He concluded: I must commend my north ward colleague, Cllr Arthur Gibbons, who while other councillors ran and deserted the people of the Forthill area, sought and got assurances from senior officials that this housing development would accelerate the creation of much needed recreation facilities on Forthill. ENDS

For more info contact Chris @ 086 8119 550

 

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