Mark Wall (Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I, too, welcome the Minister of State to the House on what is a very busy day for her and everybody in Leinster House. I also thank the Cathaoirleach for selecting this Commencement matter. McCauley Court is a lovely development of ten units - ten houses and family homes - on the grounds of St. Vincent's Hospital in Athy. It is an issue I have followed for a number of years, probably since I was first elected as a councillor to Kildare County Council. At the moment, there are ten units in this development, four of which are occupied but six are unoccupied. This older persons' sheltered accommodation has been unoccupied for at least ten years in a housing crisis. As the Minister of State just asked - why? In March, stage 4 funding was mentioned by the Government, which was welcomed by all. I welcome any investment in housing in Kildare South, given the crisis there. I was told this was the be-all and end-all, that an approved housing body had been identified which agreed to do the work, take over the development and running of the ten units and that both Kildare County Council and the HSE were on board. I have followed up since then. Insulation has not been put in and heating has not been upgraded. In fact, residents of the estate do not know when the development will happen.

I have visited a number of these houses. I spoke to the four gentlemen who live in those houses over a number of years. The conditions the four of them are living in are unacceptable. In the winter months, they spend between €400 and €500 on the ESB every two months. They are four pensioners. They spend this money because they cannot heat their homes. They have to turn on their storage heaters two hours before they go to bed to heat the room they sleep in. That, combined with the fact that they already pay €60 a week rent - €45 in two other cases - is unacceptable.

McCauley Court is a prime example of what we can do for our older generation. There are ten houses, four occupied and six unoccupied. It is in a great location on the grounds of St. Vincent's Hospital in Athy. It is in the heart of the town, where people can meet friends and socialise. This is the ideal model of what older persons' living should be but, for at least five years, six premises have been vacant in the middle of a housing crisis. I hope the Minister of State will bring some good news to the four residents and the many people who have contacted me and every public representative in Kildare South who want to perhaps downsize and become a resident of one of the six vacant units. I am struggling to get answers. I am told by Kildare County Council that the blockage is with the HSE; I have not had any good news yet from the HSE. I hope today in her response the Minister of State will give good news to the four residents and the people of Kildare South that there is hope for this housing crisis, for those on a long list in Kildare County Council and for those who want and, most importantly, need sheltered housing.

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I thank Senator Wall for raising the issue of the proposed necessary refurbishment of the social housing scheme at McCauley Court, adjacent to the grounds of St. Vincent’s Hospital in Athy, County Kildare. As the Senator is aware, the age-friendly social housing development was initially funded under the Department of housing’s capital assistance scheme approximately 30 years ago. The development provided ten high-quality new homes at that time, with eight one-bed bungalows and two two-bed bungalows to cater for elderly residents. In addition to the ten homes, there is a communal facility with an activity room and laundry facilities.

I understand that the approved housing body originally involved in this development, Athy Voluntary Housing Association, ceased operation, which unfortunately resulted in some of the homes becoming vacant and all of the homes requiring significant capital investment to make them fit for purpose for intended tenants.As the Senator will be aware, there is no shortage of capital at the moment. The difficulty relates to delivery and making things happen. Thanks to the work of Kildare County Council, however, I understand that another AHB, Tinteán Carlow Voluntary Housing Association, is to take over the operation of the housing scheme under a lease arrangement with Kildare County Council. In the context of this new management arrangement, which I assume it is working quickly to deliver, the council requested that the Department of housing provide additional funding to upgrade the properties, which it has done.

Given that the site where the houses are located is, as the Senator mentioned, part-owned by both the HSE and Kildare County Council, the takeover and completion of the refurbishment works by Tinteán can only occur once the HSE transfers its portion of the site to Kildare County Council. I understand that this process is now in train and that it also involves some land owned by Kildare County Council being transferred to the HSE. I hope it will be done efficiently and in an extraordinarily timely way in recognition of the necessity for the development of housing and how inexplicable it would be for it to be done slowly. Legal aspects can take time to be finalised, but that is not an excuse for leaving things go for a long time.

On the upgrade to the properties that the Department of housing is funding with Kildare County Council, the following are the intended main works: energy upgrade works to include the replacement of windows and the heating system and dry-lining external walls; mechanical and electrical works to include rewiring the homes and installing mechanical ventilation; the replacement of internal fittings and finishes to include the replacement of kitchens, bathrooms, floor coverings and internal doors and redecoration; and the replacement of external fittings to include the replacement of fascia, soffits and downpipes and carrying out necessary repairs to the roof.

The Department of housing is providing capital funding of more than €900,000 for these works. The funding approval is welcome but, as the Senator knows, it is all about delivery. I understand that once the site transfers have been concluded, which I hope will be soon, Tinteán will be in a position to procure a design team and thereafter proceed to tender for the works.

Here is yet another example of the need for a more streamlined, efficient delivery of service.

Mark Wall (Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I appreciate the Minister of State's detailed response. She is correct that it is about delivery. I am aware that the Government has provided €900,000 for the upgrade of these homes and the provision of six new family homes and welcome that. However, when I visit these pensioners in their homes and see the mould coming out of the wall, I cannot accept that the HSE is delaying this or that the Government is allowing that to happen. My request for the Minister of State today is that she contact the HSE on behalf of all of us, in particular the people of Kildare South, and ask it to move to get the documents signed. I believe that is the only obstacle in our way. Legal documents can take time, as the Minister of State mentioned, but these houses are 30 years old, many people want to get into them and I understand that all that is required is a signature on a document for Tinteán to take over the running of these homes. I beg the Minister of State on behalf of many people, including the four current tenants and the six new ones, to make that contact. I appreciate her time today.

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I will certainly ask the relevant Department to do that, but it is by no means the first time I have come across such a case. For example, proposed housing for veterans of the Defence Forces in Limerick and Cork is subject to similar transfer and process delays, which I find intolerable. These things are incredibly urgent and important and while this process has been going on for 30 years, it is not acceptable. As public representatives, we see the mould on the walls and the gaps in delivery and it is frustrating to have a society and economy with so much funding available and to see inexplicable delays. When things are in train and moving, that is fine, but to see things sitting on desks and not being resolved with the same urgency that we feel when we see mould on the walls is intolerable to me as a public representative. I understand the Senator's frustration.

Martin Conway (Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I thank the Minister of State. We in Seanad Éireann all wish those residents the best and hope the issue will be resolved in a timely manner.