Seanad debates

Tuesday, 29 May 2018

Commencement Matters

Local Authority Housing Maintenance

2:30 pm

Photo of Denis O'DonovanDenis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State. As we say in west Cork, better late than never.

Photo of Robbie GallagherRobbie Gallagher (Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit go dtí an Teach and I thank him for his presence. I want to discuss the issue of the ongoing remedial works scheme for Mullaghmatt housing estate which, as the Minister of State probably knows, is located in Monaghan town, and consists of more than 180 dwellings constructed in the 1970s. Unfortunately, many issues have been associated with the development over the years, and the residents have had to put up with many defects affecting the properties, which have been anything from defective wiring to fractured chimney breasts to drafty doors and windows just to name but a few.

The Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment finally acceded to addressing the issues but, unfortunately, decided to do so on a phased basis. Phase 1, which commenced more than a decade ago, resulted in a number of dwellings being completed at the time. Unfortunately, we are now onto phase 4 which, I hope, will be the final phase, and we await positive news on this. As a result of the approach taken by the Department over the past decade, the people of Mullaghmatt have effectively been living on a building site.The works completed to date have enhanced the quality and appearance of the estate but, unfortunately, there are 81 dwellings yet to be remediated and they are still awaiting commencement of the fourth stage of this process.

The people of Mullaghmatt have put up with living in defective dwellings for between 30 and 40 years. While I welcome that the Department is addressing the issue, these works need to be commenced as soon as possible so that the people of Mullaghmatt can lead normal lives and plan works that they would like to do their dwellings but have been holding off on until such time as these works are completed. I hope the Minister of State, Deputy Phelan, will confirm that the tender for the works will be accepted shortly so that they can commence without delay.

Photo of John Paul PhelanJohn Paul Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I apologise for my late attendance. I thank Senator Gallagher for raising this matter which I am taking on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Eoghan Murphy.

I am pleased to say that I have good news in regard to this scheme in Mullaghmatt. The Department approved the fourth and final part of the scheme to go to tender in March. Tenders have now been received by Monaghan County Council and are being examined with a view to submission of a tender report and recommendation as soon as possible to the Department for approval. I can assure the Senator that whatever proposals are received from the county council will be examined as quickly as possible by the Department and there will be no delay in a response issuing to Monaghan County Council.

Approval of the tender recommendation should allow the county council to get works commenced later this year. The estimated cost of stage 4 is €2.9 million. Overall, this scheme has a long history, with almost €10 million having been already invested in phases 1, 2 and 3 of the scheme involving the carrying out of remedial works to local authority and privately-owned houses. A pilot refurbishment project was approved in August 2004. Works on this phase, which included the provision of new windows and doors, installation of central heating and associated insulation and wiring, etc., were completed in November 2006 at a final cost of in the region of €3.2 million. Phase 2 was approved in May 2009, with works completed in 2012 at a final cost of €5.4 million. A substantial element of phase 3 of the scheme was the provision of an access road to the front-door of a number of houses in the estate. Funding of over €1.3 million was approved for this work and it has now been completed. When the overall scheme is completed, inclusive of phase 4, improvements will have been carried out to 180 houses.

I reiterate that the Department will deal expeditiously with the tender report for phase 4 on its receipt from Monaghan County Council.

Photo of Denis O'DonovanDenis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I am sure, Senator Gallagher, that news was worth the wait.

Photo of Robbie GallagherRobbie Gallagher (Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for the response. I am heartened by its content. I trust that there will be no delay on the part of Monaghan County Council in submitting the final documentation and that the Department will, in turn, expedite the matter so that works can commence as soon as possible. I am heartened also by the Minister of State's reference to the works commencing before the end of this year.