COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF LUCAN/PALMERSTOWN/FONTHILL AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, January 28, 2020

MOTION NO. 24

MOTION: Councillor L. Kinsella-Colman

This committee agrees that when a Council house heating system failure occurs in the winter months, that the 10 working days rule does not apply and that it is classed as an emergency over the Christmas period when the council is closed?

REPORT:

Maintenance requests are received from a variety of sources:

1. Phone
2. Customer Care Counter
3. Post
4. Email
5. Pageboy
6. Public Representative
7. Clerk of work / Foreman of Works

If the maintenance request relates to an issue that is the responsibility of the Council a Maintenance Request Form (MRF) is raised following contact.  The tenants contact number and availability is recorded on the MRF. The tenant is advised of timeframes when logging initial maintenance request.

The maintenance depot categorises requests on a daily basis the MRF's as follows:

• Emergency (Danger to life)1-5 workings days,
• Urgent (Serious damage to property) up to 10 workings days,
• Routine (Matter requires attention but does not pose immediate danger to life/property) 12 weeks.

Central Heating system breakdown maintenance requests fall within the Urgent maintenance category however the Council endeavour to have a Heating Contractor for repairs to a Heating System visit a tenant as soon as possible from receipt of complaint.  Depending on the level of calls received at any particular period of time the response times may vary but heating calls are dealt with within the 10-day timeframe depending on the Contractor being able to gain access to the property when they call.  Housing Maintenance endeavour to prioritise those tenants who are older persons or if someone has severe medical needs in the home for repairs to heating systems. 

From 1^st January 2019 to 31^st December 2019 Housing Maintenance have received 4957 requests for works to heating systems.