It comes amid fears residential areas constructed over 15 years ago which require upgrade works will be effectively abandoned because they are no longer linked to a builder or developer.
Since the property boom/bust dozens of housing estates in Tipperary were left unfinished or requiring ongoing works and under recent guidelines have become a priority for the county council to take in charge now.
But Nenagh councillor Hughie McGrath feels it will be to the detriment of others people who bought houses 20 or 25 years ago may be told the council can’t carry out simple works such as fixing lights because the estates haven’t been taken in charge.
The issue was raised at this month's meeting of the Nenagh Municipal District which heard the council is dealing with over 20 taking in charge applications.
Senior planner Brian Beck says the local authority understands the difficulties some people are having but the council must follow the money trail as it doesn't have the funds itself.
The council has a limited pot so if they have a developer who has a bond of €500,000 and the local authority can get that money then it can be spent directly on that estate. If they have to try to find the money from their own resources it might take much longer to get the works done.
But Councillor McGrath remains adamant that some alternative must be found for the older estates – he says you can’t punish estates just because they are no longer linked with the developer.
Ballina Fine Gael Councillor Phyl Bugler feels that the Environment Minister Alan Kelly must help out those in his own backyard and provide funds for some form of twin track approach.
