The Council Executive is ‘letting the city down’ on housing, a meeting of the City Council was told on Monday.

Cllr Declan McDonnell (Ind) blasted the lack of delivery on housing amid a worsening crisis in the sector and said the city was “a laughing stock” while other places were pushing ahead.

“On affordable housing, it is seven years now since we got €5.7 million from Government to get the site out the back of the John Paul Centre [in Ballybane] ready. Three years ago, we passed the planning – and nothing has happened,” blasted Cllr McDonnell, referring to plans for a 103-unit mixed-use development in Merlin Woods.

“We’re a laughing stock on housing. We’re way behind out targets. In Merlin, we would have 85 affordable houses and 18 social houses and they should be built by now.

“The County Council has sixty-something affordable houses built in Claregalway,” said Cllr McDonnell.

In the Management Report for October, it is set out that work is ongoing with the Department of Housing “and relevant stakeholders on the procurement strategy for the scheme with phases projected for delivery in 2026”.

Director of Services, Lieze Fanning, told the meeting that they hoped to appoint a contractor for the Merlin Woods development “soon”.

“It’s our first one [affordable housing scheme] so we hope to be able to speed up the next one,” she said.

Unsatisfied by the length of time it was taking, Cllr McDonnell said: “You have let us down. It’s an absolute disgrace.”

Raising the issue of homelessness, Cllr John Connolly (FF) noted that such was the level of demand for homeless services that 18 families were on a waiting list just to access emergency accommodation, while there were more than 4,500 on the social housing waiting list.

“There were 203 applications for social housing received in quarter three and 30% of those were returned and I am wondering if that is based on income.

“[Galway City Council] don’t set the criteria but I think we need to look at increasing that income threshold,” he said.

Ms Fanning said the Council was under constant pressure in dealing with homelessness.

Pictured: Cllr Declan McDonnell: ‘An absolute disgrace’.