Call for tenant deposits to protect council houses

TENANTS who rent houses from local authorities should pay a deposit which would be unreturnable if they damage the property.

That was the demand of a member of Cork County Council after it was revealed the local authority spent nearly €6 million repairing housing stock over a three-year period.

Cllr Patrick O’Driscoll said he was shocked that the repair bill from 2008 to 2010 amounted to €5,821,809.