Penalties sought for contractors over delays in refurbishing council houses

A local authority has been told to get tough on contractors who delay the refit of vacant county council houses.

Councillors in Co Cork, demanding penalties against contractors who ignore completion deadlines, claimed some companies were giving private housing projects a priority over local authority housing.

Skibbereen-based councillor Joe Carroll said a timeframe should be set for the refurbishment of council houses so tenants can move in. He told a council meeting of “constant complaints” from potential tenants waiting for houses to be finished.