COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF CLONDALKIN AREA COMMITTEE

Wednesday, January 19, 2022

QUESTION NO. 11

QUESTION: Councillor William Joseph Carey

"To ask the Chief Executive if the Council can provide data on level of mould and dampness in council properties, (particular attention should be given to age friendly accommodation)? To ascertain if there is a design flaw or if there is proper ventilation installed in properties that are deemed to be insulated and airtight."

REPLY:

Dampness and mould in a property are related to temperature and humidity of the immediate environment.  As such, both issues can result from homeowner’s behaviour, construction issues or a combination of both. Due to the nature of our climate and the way we live, most homes would have some element of dampness and mould that requires interaction of the homeowner to help ventilate, clean and prevent build up over time. The vast majority of damp and mould issues reported are preventable with the positive interaction of the tenant.

In severe cases of damp and mould related to construction issues, the Housing Maintenance Section are currently trialling Centralised Mechanical Extract Ventilation in a number of properties.  This form of ventilation provides a constant controlled circulation of air within the property, to help improve air circulation thereby reducing moisture levels.  Once the initial trials have been completed, our maintenance section will assess the suitability of the solution to roll out to other similar property types experiencing similar issues.

It should also be noted planned maintenance programmes, such as the Energy Efficiency Retrofit Program and the Accelerated Windows and Doors replacement programme, will also have a positive impact on the control of damp and mould in properties. For 2022, it is expected in excess of 400 properties across the county will have planned maintenance works undertaken which will have an impact on the fabric of the building.