Mother claims children have caught skin infections from council house mould

By Mary Dennehy

DAMP and mouldy conditions in council dwellings continue to be a concern, with one mother claiming that her children caught a skin infection from fungus growth in their home.

Angelina Byrne is living with her four children in a two-bed apartment in Ardmore Park in Tallaght.

 

Since moving into her local authority home seven years ago, Angelina claims that she has been living in damp and mouldy conditions – despite South Dublin County Council visiting the premises on numerous occasions.

She told The Echo: “I clean the mould off my windows, ceilings and walls every two weeks, but it just keeps coming back and in the winter mushrooms grow in my kitchen.

“The council did come and wash my walls with chemicals a few years back, but it didn’t fix the problem – which I believe is basically down to the design of the apartment block or the insulation used.”

She added: “All of my kids are on inhalers and they all caught a skin infection, which the hospital can’t confirm is from the mould, but they can’t rule it out either.

“I’m really worried about my kids’ health, they are living in really unhealthy conditions, and the ceiling in the bathroom is after getting so bad that I’m afraid it’s going to cave in.

“I can’t stop the condensation building up in my home, I’ve tried.

“We need the council to take a proper look at the apartment block and make it safe for people to live in.”

Back in 2010, Dublin South West TD Sean Crowe, who was then a Tallaght councillor, raised the issue of dampness and fungus growth in council dwellings.

More than six years down the line, he told The Echo: “Dampness and mould continues to be a problem in some council homes, especially newer builds.

“The council has been quick to put the blame on residents but there are cases which need proper investigation, telling people to open windows is not the solution.

“The council had an original idea a few years back to set up a special unit to look at these homes, this idea should be revisited – and a more measured response given to people’s concerns.”

Tallaght South Sinn Féin councillor Cathal King also has a motion on the council agenda which asks the local authority to seek EU funding to support the introduction of a ventilation system programme.

Cllr King told The Echo: “The problem seems to have gotten worse and I think in a lot of cases its down to incorrect ventilation.

“There is a smart ventilation system which, when installed in homes, takes moisture out of the air.

“We got EU funding a few years back for the installation of these ventilation systems in a small number of homes – and they worked.

“If we secure funding I’m suggesting that we roll-out a programme in the area.

“We have a high level of asthma in Tallaght and this programme could have a very positive effect on young kids and older residents with COPD.”

A reply from South Dublin County Council was not received in time for print.