*Photograph: Páraic McMahon
ENNIS 2040 HOARDINGS which cost almost €18,000 have been dismantled from Francis Street.
Works began this week to reposition the existing hoarding on the exterior of the Francis Street site which is earmarked for the development of 39 housing units which will be duplexes and apartments.
A spokesperson for Ennis 2040 DAC told The Clare Echo “increased footfall and traffic to the new de Valera library” prompted the position of the hoarding to be reviewed. “Works have now commenced to reposition the existing hoarding, which will reopen the previously covered footpaths on Francis Street and Causeway Link Road improving pedestrian access in the area”.
The Clare Echo has learned that the hoarding cost €17,851 before it was erected in 2024.
In March 2024, Clare County Council applied for a Section 179A planning exemption which enabled the granting of planning permission without any submissions from the public or elected representatives to begin knocking the row of cottages on Francis Street in Ennis which had been acquired by the local authority in October 2022.
The Causeway Quarter site is owned by Clare County Council, a judicial review has been withdrawn which is allowing plans to progress. Ennis 2040 DAC intend to apply for Section 179A planning to construct 39 units which are duplexes and apartments, the mix includes five one-bedroom units, thirty two-bedroom units, four three-bedroom units while the site will also have thirty nine car spaces.
It is expected that the properties will be available under the Secure Tenancy Affordable Rental Investment Scheme (STAR). STAR is intended to bring forward Cost Rental dwellings with the aim of assisting eligible households who are experiencing acute affordability pressures in the private rental sector, particularly in urban centres where prevailing rents are especially high. These dwellings will be more affordable to the tenant than current market rents, being at least 25% below market rents in a given area.
Speaking at a meeting of the Ennis Municipal District in March of last year, Director of Economic Development and current Interim Chief Executive with Clare County Council, Carmel Kirby stated, “The affordable housing scheme needs to be completed by the end of 2025, it was always planned we’d carry out the works as quickly as possible”.
The High Court on March 4th 2024 was notified of a judicial review on the application which prompted then Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG) to flag, “normal practice is works don’t proceed until there is a decision on a legal case”. Kirby stated that enabling works started prior to this and legal advice had yet to be received following the High Court hearing.
These actions led to current MEP, Michael McNamara (IND) labelling Clare County Council as “the dodgiest of dodgy developers”.
Discussions on options for the site are underway between Ennis 2040 DAC, the Housing Agency and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage following the withdrawal of a judicial review.
