COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF TALLAGHT AREA COMMITTEE (1)

Monday, May 17, 2010

QUESTION NO 22.

QUESTION: Councillor E. Walsh

"To ask the Manager to detail how many  houses are now vacant in MacUilliam Estate; will he confirm what action is being taken to return the houses to the Housing Stock and will he make a statement?"

REPLY:

The Council has 306 rented properties in Mac Uilliam Estate and there are currently 11 properties vacant representing 3.6 % of the overall estate. It should be noted that 5 of these properties only became vacant in the last couple of months. This estate is still unsettled with a  high turnover of surrenders and at the same time it is difficult to source replacement tenants.

The current status of these properties is as follows: Two of these units have tenants sourced and are due for allocation within the next week.  Another unit was almost ready for allocation with a tenant sourced but the ESB meter was stolen and the Council is currently waiting on the ESB to fit a new meter.  This will be allocated as soon as the meter is installed.  Of the remaining eight  properties  re - let repairs have commenced in six properties and  tenants are currently being sourced for these. These  properties should be ready for allocation  within the next month. The remaining two properties were only recently surrendered.

The Council's work is constantly being hampered by vandalism.  This occurred in two of the above properties during the period when the repairs were being carried out.  The damage included the stealing of all the copper piping, cylinder and sink top in one unit and the windows and doors destroyed  in the other.   This seriously hampers the Council’s re –let programme of works. The Council makes every effort to prepare housing units for re-allocation in an efficient and timely manner.