Ordinary residents are willing to maintain and improve their housing estates, but red tape is stopping them.
That’s according to Tralee municipal district (MD) councillor Deirdre Ferris.
She called on Kerry County Council to support residents’ associations in council owned estates with the necessary equipment to maintain their communities.
She highlighted that while many residents are eager to take responsibility for their local areas, they are being held back by bureaucratic obstacles.
Cllr Ferris criticised the lack of a practical system for recognising and supporting these informal but active community groups.
She gave examples of residents being willing to contribute their own money for new equipment, but needing an official letter from the council confirming they are a recognised group to set up a bank or credit union account.
She noted that Tralee has seen a surge in new housing estates and community spaces in recent decades but that council staffing levels have not kept pace.
Cllr Ferris said she can’t understand why the council’s not helping people who are willing to take ownership of their estate.
She stressed that working with residents was the only practical way to ease the pressure on municipal teams.
The Sinn Féin councillor also criticised the complexity of applying for council grants, which she said were time-consuming and bureaucratic.
The council's housing department responded that it does make financial contributions to Residents’ Associations in Council-owned estates, subject to funding availability.
They said small-scale grants are also available through the Community Support Fund and the Local Enhancement Programme.
