Homes Undelivered After Substantial Deposits Paid, Kildare Council Warns Of Potential Unauthorised Works

Email exchanges seen by Kfm News show buyers were repeatedly told delays were due to Uisce Éireann - despite Uisce Éireann now confirming it is not responsible.

A mother has been left living separately from her partner, repeatedly reapplying for a mortgage, and raising a baby without a permanent home - after paying a deposit for a house she still cannot move into.

Ciara is one of several buyers at the Munfine Park development in Blessington, which falls under the remit of Kildare County Council.

She says she was told her home would be ready by March 2025, after paying a deposit in September 2024.

More than nine months later, she is still waiting.

Substantial deposits have been paid to the developer for each of the three-bedroom homes currently available, with slightly lower deposits paid on one and two-bedroom duplex units sold.

Email exchanges seen by Kfm News show buyers were repeatedly told delays were due to Uisce Éireann - despite Uisce Éireann now confirming it is not responsible.

Ciara says the lack of clarity has left her and other families in limbo.

She has had to reapply for her mortgage four times, while she and her partner live in different counties, commuting long distances to care for their child.

She now lives with family in Dublin, while her partner is living in Carlow.

She says the financial strain and constant uncertainty have taken a severe personal toll, with no firm move-in date now offered beyond early 2026.

She explained how she bought the house before she had a baby, in the hope that she and her partner could move in before her child was born.

She says she then believed she would be in by Christmas - which also has not happened.

In June, Kildare County Council issued a warning letter to the developer over unresolved issues at the site.

The letter states that the Munfine Park development appears to be unauthorised, because a number of key planning conditions were not met.

According to the warning letter, the developer began work without first submitting or agreeing a series of required documents - many of them essential to safety, drainage and access.

Ciara said buyers just need clarity.

She said she is not in a position to fight for another house.

The Council says the development may constitute unauthorised development, with the developer given six months to address the issues.

Emails show how frustration mounted throughout this year, as buyers repeatedly contacted the selling agent, JP & M Doyle.

In early July, purchasers were told homes were likely to be ready in September, subject to Irish Water completing works.

By mid-July, they were informed Irish Water had not yet arrived on site, and that even a September or October completion was optimistic.

Through August and into early September, buyers seeking updates were told there was no progress and that the development was still waiting on Irish Water.

By late September, purchasers reported receiving conflicting information from on-site staff and local sources, including suggestions that move-in dates could slip into early 2026, while the selling agent said no firm timeline could be confirmed and that clarity was still awaited from the developer.

Following queries from Kfm News, the developer contacted purchasers this week via estate agents JP & M Doyle.

The email offered “sincere apologies for the delays” buyers have been experiencing, and said the developer fully understands “how difficult it is to wait for a new home” - particularly one that represents such a “significant personal and financial milestone”.

The email stated the developer is “doing everything” it “possibly can to move the project forward responsibly and without further interruption”.

It said the main delay is due to a final approval process with Kildare County Council for the surface water drainage network, describing the process as not “entirely within our control”, but saying it is “actively engaging with KCC and working through all remaining compliance items as quickly and thoroughly as possible”.

The developer also sought to reassure purchasers, stating the project remains “fully funded, and all necessary resources are in place to deliver every home”.

In a further statement to Kfm News, the developer said Two Mile House Construction Ltd has updated purchasers regarding a revised completion timeline of Q1 2026 for the first phase of the development.

It said this revision is necessary to allow for final technical approval of the surface water drainage network, describing it as “a standard but vital regulatory requirement to ensure the highest quality infrastructure for the development”.

It added: “We are actively engaging with the Council’s technical team to resolve these remaining matters and finalise the design compliance. We wish to assure our purchasers and the community that the project remains fully funded, and we are committed to resuming full on-site activity as soon as this final sign-off is in place.”

The developer further stated it is committed to “resuming full on-site activity as soon as this final surface water sign-off is achieved”, and said it has “strengthened our design and engineering team to ensure that every technical document and design meets the Council’s standards, helping us progress this final stage of approval”.

Uisce Éireann told Kfm News it is not responsible for any delays.

A spokesperson said: “Uisce Éireann is not responsible for any delay in the process of connecting the development at Kilmalum Road, Blessington, Kildare. Uisce Éireann is fully committed to completing connections as efficiently as possible. Our Connections team and dedicated field engineers engage extensively with developers to progress the delivery of water and wastewater connection works.”

They added: “Connections can’t be completed until these tests are completed satisfactorily. Should any developer have concerns over delivery timelines we would encourage them to engage with Uisce Éireann at 1800 278 278 or with their Uisce Éireann field engineer who will guide the developer through any remaining steps as efficiently as possible.”

A spokesperson for Kildare County Council said the council is “continuing to engage with the agent for the developer to ensure compliance with the planning permission granted”.

In a letter issued to the developer on November 25th, the council sought further information in relation to changes made to several homes already approved under an earlier planning permission.

The application covers eight units, including changes from three-bedroom to four-bedroom houses, and from two-bedroom to three-bedroom duplexes.

However, the council says there are unresolved compliance issues with the original permission - particularly around roads and road safety - which were flagged in the formal warning letter issued in June.

The Planning Authority says it cannot assess the new application until those issues are addressed.