Cork council funds housing work for disabled tenants

Living conditions for disabled Cork County Council tenants are to be improved as part of the local authority’s budget for next year.

Additional money is also to be spent on housing maintenance, enhancing entrances to towns, supporting Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs) and upgrading footpaths and public lighting.

Speaking at yesterday’s annual budget meeting, chief executive Tim Lucey said a programme would be set up to put money into making council houses more disabled-friendly for those who needed adaptions.

“There is at present a significant backlog of such works and, coupled with an expected allocation from central government towards such works in 2016 and future years, this will provide the opportunity to make an impact on this waiting list on a prioritised basis,” he said.

Mr Lucey noted €500,000 would also be set aside primarily for making council houses more energy-efficient, therefore cutting down on fuel poverty.

“This [programme already] enabled progression of 779 properties in 2015 and the repairs and replacements associated with central heating systems on foot of our planned boiler maintenance and repair programme.”

He added that the council would also be putting in €2m between 2016-2019 to speed up the time it takes to repair council houses and re-let to new tenants.

“In developing priorities for this, the process in respect of the repair of vacant dwellings from casual vacancies arising during the year is being examined. Where possible and necessary, this additional funding will be utilised to ensure that we continue on having the most effective system in place within available resources for the turnaround of casual vacancies to let-able properties,” he said.

Mr Lucey said between 2016 and 2019 it was also intended to invest €5m in improving public footpaths and a further €2m on public lighting.

A €1m Town Development Fund has been created by the council to rejuvenate town centres hit by the recession.

It will support business associations in a drive to attract shoppers into towns, along with possible schemes to address dereliction and the potential to provide significant additional supports to tidy towns groups.

He said €600,000 was being set aside next year for municipal districts to carry out maintenance and enhancement of approach roads to towns and general maintenance of their public spaces.

“These are all aimed at improving the appearance of our county and is a specific response to the recognition that reductions in funding levels over the past seven years has led to a significant reduction in the capacity of the council to maintain many areas to a reasonable level,” Mr Lucey said.

Municipal districts will also be given €1.818m to support discretionary expenditure through the Community Grants Scheme. In additon, they will also be allocated €150,000 for a Community Arts Programme.

Furthermore, €180,000 is being set aside to support 1916 centenary commemorations in the county next year. A number of councillors complained the allocation was not sufficient.

Cllr Frank O’Flynn (FF) said Kerry was spending more and Cllr Susan McCarthy (FG) suggested at least €320,000 should be set aside.