The Bishop of Killaloe, Dr William Walsh, has sold lands at his Westbourne Palace residence in Ennis to the local council for social housing. It was confirmed at Ennis Urban District Council's October meeting that Dr Walsh had agreed to sell six acres of land to the council for £1.2 million.
Dr Walsh said yesterday: "I'm very happy that the negotiations have come to a fruitful conclusion. I would be very conscious of the fact that ultimately the land or bishop's house is not mine, it belongs to the Church and the Church is ultimately the people and we have social responsibilities in this regard."
The Mid-Western Health Board and the Society of St Vincent de Paul had also expressed an interest in the lands. The monies accrued by the diocese of Killaloe from the sale are to be used to develop its community and social services, as well as marriage support services.
In a letter to each council member, Dr Walsh said the Diocesan Trust had responded to the approach by the council "because we are conscious of our obligations towards the local community and in particular towards co-operating with the council in their efforts to respond to the needs for social housing".
In the letter, Dr Walsh referred to the continuing problem of illegal parking of Travellers' caravans at several locations throughout Ennis as a result of there being no serviced halting site.
"It is my earnest hope that the sale of these lands will enable the council to make further significant progress in these areas," he wrote. He said the issue was discussed during the negotiations.
The chairman of the council, Mr Frank Neylon, said he was "delighted the bishop and the Diocesan Trust agreed to sell the lands. It will help to reduce the housing list in Ennis."
The Green Party councillor, Mr Donal O'Beara, said: "The bishop has done it again. He could have sold the lands to the highest bidder."
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