The new Cathaoirleach of the Castlecomer District says he believes housing is one of the most important issues that needs to be dealt with in the area over the next 12 months.
Fianna Fail’s Pat Fitzpatrick was elected to chair the area’s Municipal District council this week.
He’s welcoming the completion of local authority estates in the area (including one in Castlecomer – more on that here) but says private housing is also badly needed, telling KCLR News “There’s also private housing that is needed, much needed, there’s many areas that want to develop a private housing there’s the likes of Johnstown, the likes of Goresbridge, the likes of issues in Gowran and indeed in Castlecomer, there’s many other areas there’s planning permission granted for a number of houses but we don’t have the water infrastructure there”.
He believes supports need to be sorted too, noting “We need to tackle Irish Water because I believe they’re holding up vital projects in North Kilkenny because of the lack of the water and infrastructural supplies there so again they’re issues I want to take up, my chairmanship covers from Goresbridge right across through Castlecomer to Urlingford and back to Kilmanagh”.
And Cllr Fitzpatrick adds “I find them awfully difficult to deal with because they won’t come into our elected chamber and come in and discuss the issues but I’m certain you can go to a clinic and talk to them in a side room but that’s not good enough for me I want to hear their plans, I want to hear their plans outlined to all the members of the Castlecomer Municipal District and indeed if they want to do so to come in and outline all their plans to Kilkenny County Council”.
