COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

south dublin county council crest

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, February 11, 2008

QUESTION NO 10.

QUESTION: Councillor E. Tuffy

To ask the Manager if he will consider making available to tenants of Council houses and flats/apartments interest free loans to finance (a) replacement windows and/or (b) replacement fitted kitchens, along the lines of the schemes operated  by Dublin City Council and if he will make a statement on the matter?

REPLY:  All Council homes built post - 1996 are fitted with double glazed windows.

In order to maximise energy efficiency in the Council 's rented housing stock and in the interest of achieving common quality standards, the County Architetcts Department in association with the Housing Projects Section has decided to proceed with a number of programmes including a countwide Window Replacement Programme. This programme commenced in November 2006. To date 500 homes in Killinarden Estate, Drumcairn Estate, Kilcarrig Estate, and Knockmore Estate in Tallaght and St Marks Estate and Rowlagh Estate in Clondalkin have been completed under the Window Replacement Programme. A further 645 homes have been fitted with new double glazed units under various refurbishment programmes.  

It is intended to roll out this programme until all Council rented homes have double glazed windows. South Dublin County Council as the landlord has responsibility in ensuring that all works carried out in Council homes are carrried out within all current building regulations with health and safety in mind at all times.

Housing Maintenance Section commenced a Kitchen Replacement Programme in 2006 and to date 179 units have been replaced. It is intended to continue to run this programme to replace all  units identified as requiring replacement. A further 645 homes have been fitted with new kitchens under various refurbshment programmes.

South Dublin County Council will  research  all the details of the loan scheme operated by Dublin City Council including the funding, repayment method, and operation of the scheme. This report will be presented to the Council in the near future.