'Appalling’ state of some council houses criticised

The “appalling†condition of some of Meath County Council's houses in Kells has come under attack from Kells Town Council cathaoirleach, Cllr Conor Ferguson. He was critical of the huge gulf in what he claims is the standard of Meath County Council's housing in comparison with the Kells Town Council housing stock. “Kells Town Council spent €2 million improving their houses, but the county council stock in the town is unbelievably bad,†he said. “I have been inundated with calls from people in Magdalene Court, Ard na Greine and Blackwater Heights whose homes are in very bad repair. We are constantly been told there is no money. Engineers go and look at these houses, surveys are carried out, the houses are put on a list, but nothing is done,†he said. “All of the town council's houses are up to scratch, but their neighbours in county council houses have to put up with terrible conditions. Windows and doors are rotting in some houses and electrics and plumbing are not up to standard,†he claimed. “There are doors twisted with age, letting in all the cold and they have single glazing windows and a poor energy ratings. People are finding it impossible to heat their homes and this is a particular problem for the elderly,†he added. Cllr Ferguson said that there were new regulations which oblige landlords to maintain houses to a certain standard. “The county council are not even abiding by their own standards, but they expect their tenants to pay over their rent. It is hypocritical,†he went on. “I am hoarse from contacting officials about the state of some of these houses.†He said: “Kells Town Council has looked after their stock. It is time Meath County Council put in some investment.†A spokesperson for Meath County Council said there were two types of housing maintenance carried out by the council - response maintenance and planned maintenance. “The council has 2,749 houses spread across the county and, in the case of the Kells estates, response maintenance is undertaken as required to resolve particular issues when identified by the tenant. Kells has recently benefited from planned maintenance works carried out at Headford Grove and Blackthorn Close,†the spokesperson said. “There is an ongoing programme of upgrading taking place to bring vacant houses up to the approved C1 energy rating standards before houses are re-let. “This work is supported by Dept of the Environmental & Local Government funding and will continue, subject to the continued availability of the funding. “There are a number of houses identified in Kells for these upgrades in Magdalene Court. Tenants may also apply to the council have this upgrading carried out and houses will be assessed and prioritised accordingly,†she added.