COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

South Dublin County Council Crest

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, July 13, 2020

QUESTION NO. 2

QUESTION: Councillor Teresa Costello

To ask the Chief Executive how many housing maintenance requests are currently outstanding which have been requested longer than 6 months, can you give details on how long requests have been awaiting completion eg number of queries outstanding grouped into 6 - 12 months since submitted 12 - 18 months since submitted etc.

REPLY:

The Council categorises and responds to maintenance requests for repairs (known as MRFs) in accordance with the following guidelines:

CATEGORY

TIMESCALE

EXAMPLE

Emergency

1 – 5 working days

Smoking Fuse Board, Burst water tank

Urgent

10 working days

Leak under sink unit, Leaking roof

Routine

Up to 12 weeks

Replace toilet cistern, Faulty radiator

Cyclical

1 – 7 years

Gutter replacement, replacement hall door etc.

The response may involve an initial inspection of the property to determine the exact nature of the works to ensure that the request is correctly categorised.  Works are then either classified as response or cyclical and the MRF is closed out with works assigned to a particular response or planned maintenance programme.  In addition, a percentage of MRFs received are deemed tenant responsibility at point of contact or following inspection and would not be repaired by our maintenance team or contractors.  The current system for recording MRFs does not readily lend itself to analysis of specific MRFs actioned or outstanding as there is no capacity to link and track the associated work programmes within the system.  However, the planned introduction of a new Integrated Housing System later this year will greatly enhance the ability of the housing maintenance team to manage and report on MRFs received and actioned as well as providing tenants with the option of tracking the progress of any maintenance requests they may have.

Details of the cyclical works outstanding by programme type are as follows:

Accelerated Window and Door Programme

No. of units

Full replacement

776

Front window replacement

217

Back window

198

Front window

188

Back Door

19

Single Windows and Doors (not in identified accelerated programme areas)

157

Painting Programme

 

Windows and Doors

1171

OAP Dwellings

354

Mac Uilliam and Balgaddy Estates

Communal Areas and External Walls

Kitchen Replacement Programme

117

Energy Retro- Fit Programme

 

Phase 1

700

Phase 2

330

We are currently finalising arrangements for the commencement of the works programmes for windows/doors, painting etc. following detailed procurement processes that were completed pre-Covids.  These works were due to commence in April but obviously had to be delayed due to the prevailing circumstances.   In addition our kitchens replacement and retro-fit programmes as well as various other maintenance programmes are re-commencing in accordance with guidance and healthy and safety requirements to address the outstanding works listed above.