Over €2m funding for SDCC housing upgrades
By Maurice Garvey
OVER €2 million of funding has been made available for South Dublin County Council to draw on for housing upgrades.
Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien recently announced plans to make additional funding available as part of the July Stimulus Plan for maintenance of public housing.
Palmerstown-Fonthill Cllr Shane Moynihan (FF), welcomed the move, which sees South Dublin County eligible for the second largest allocation nationally.
Cllr Moynihan said: “I am delighted my party colleague has made funds available to local authorities to undertake necessary maintenance on public housing and bring void units into the public housing stock.”
Cllr Moynihan says it takes over 19 weeks in the SDCC area to re-let public houses to new tenants so that refurbishment work takes place.
The majority require extensive renovation work, including windows and door replacement, kitchen replacement, bathroom upgrade, and upgrading of heating.
“A pro-active approach to maintenance of public housing properties could drive down the amount of time these properties lie idle while being refurbished,” said Cllr Moynihan.
“Over the past year in the SDCC area, less than a third of housing maintenance requests are completed, thus storing up problems for when the property needs to be re-let.
“I have been contacted by people in Lucan, North Clondalkin and Palmerstown about problems with insulation, mould and needs for replacement doors and windows.
“Addressing these needs in a timely manner means that public houses will be vacant for less time when it comes to re-let them.”
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