A local Fine Gael councillor in Cork has come under fire over comments opposing a social housing development in Montenotte.

This comes after the Fine Gael representative called for a 54-home site in the northside of Cork to be a private housing development rather than an estate managed by an approved housing body.

Labour member in Cork City, Cllr John Maher has hit out at the comments, calling on Fine Gael and Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy to clarify their stance on the issue.

Cllr Maher said: "This proposal would see 54 families homed. It would see 54 people off the housing waiting list. Whatever happened with the private developer is quite frankly not an issue at this moment. If they wanted to build the houses, you can be sure they would have built them. Here we have a site ready for housing and you have an elected councillor opposing them.

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"I might say it's madness but the track record of Fine Gael on the northside of Cork is not one to be proud of. Their Dáil representative has hightailed it to Europe but is still taking a wage from the people who put him in his position to deliver results for Cork North Central.

"The needs of our constituency are being ignored by Government, and now local Fine Gael representatives are opposing social housing in the area. This comes just weeks after the violent killing of a homeless man.

"Fine Gael can dog whistle all they like, the people can see through them. We know that over the last year in Cork, from May 2018 to May 2019 there was a 30% increase in the homelessness rising from 314 to 407, and we know that official statistics don’t cover those sleeping rough.

"Just when we need an ambitious building programme of public housing to ease the crisis, we now see opposition from representatives of the main Government party to much needed homes."

(CM/JG)