More contractors needed for repairs to council houses

The need for more contractors to carry out repairs to council houses was acknowledged at the February meeting of the Municipal District of Mullingar Kinnegad. Members complained that tenants were waiting two years and longer to have boilers serviced, windows repaired or replaced, and other such works.

David Cummins, executive engineer in the Housing Department, said the number of call-outs in recent years supports the call for additional contractors. The council has an in-house contractor, but with the number of housing lots and the number of call-outs increasing, will need more contractors, he agreed.

A schedule of works showed that Westmeath County Council will spend €1.45 million on routine maintenance and another €1.54 million on planned maintenance of council dwellings this year. Last year, the council received 1,783 requests for repairs and 1,443 were acted on. Another 105 were declined as they were deemed the tenant’s responsibility, and 235 are under investigation.

Most of the repairs are plumbing and heating related (55 percent); general repairs such as roofs, ceilings are second on 25 percent. Windows and doors account for 12 percent, electrical items 7 percent and chimneys 1 percent.

This year, the council propose to do work on 270 oil boilers, 260 gas boilers and 130 air-to-water units; €368,000 will be spent on window and door replacement and another €60,000 on servicing windows and doors.

In 2024, the council refurbished 44 vacant houses that were re-let at a cost of approximately €836,132, an average cost of €19,003 per unit.

The council received €264,000 from the government towards the costs.

At the end of 2024, 29 of the council’s 2,400 housing units were vacant, a rate of 0.01 percent.

The council also refurbished 18 acquisition houses at a cost of €442,378, which was fully funded by the government.