COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, October 13, 2008

QUESTION NO. 22

QUESTION: Councillor E. Tuffy

 

To ask the Manager if he will provide an updated report on the Question to the Manager tabled at the February 2008 Council meeting regarding  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 can provide information on that scheme and if he will make a statement on the matter?

REPLY:

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.

The Housing Department have been liaising with Dublin City Council in respect of the loan scheme they operate that allows their tenants to take out a loan to upgrade the windows of their home and repay that loan by making extra payments in their rent. A similar scheme exists for tenants to upgrade the kitchens in their home. Dublin City Council fund these loans out of their internal capital receipts.  Discussions with the City Council staff have included complex issues in relation to collection of the loan repayments with the rent, and the committment of time and personnel to ensure that all works are Value For Money, meet the required standards and are installed correctly.

Before any such scheme can be intiated in South Dublin, indicative interest in such a scheme would need to be gauged and adequate funding to meet the demand would need to be sourced. Also further research is required to ensure that any scheme would ensure that value for money is being obtained and also that any windows/doors or kitchen fittings being installed in any Council home meet current building regulations and also the common quality standards mentioned above.

Following examination of these issues, a report outlining the feasibility of South Dublin County Council operating similar loan schemes to those administered by Dublin City Council will be presented to the Housing SPC.