Cork woman and terminally ill daughter yet to receive written confirmation of house offer

More than six weeks after an approved housing body apologised to the mother of a terminally ill four-year-old, who was living in a damp and mould-prone city flat, the Cork woman says she and her daughter are still no better off.

In February, Respond — Ireland’s largest construction-led approved housing body — apologised to Agnes* after she told The Echo that conditions in their rented home were worsening her child’s suffering.

Since then, Agnes says, the housing body has shown her one two-storey house, which is unsuitable for her daughter’s needs, and a video of an upstairs apartment which had no parking.

Last week, Agnes says, a representative of Respond — after a follow-up call to the charity from The Echo — told her that because it had no suitable accommodation for her on its books, it would instead buy a house for her — but she has received no written confirmation of this offer.

Agnes’s daughter Robin* was born with a rare and terminal illness.

Robin also suffers from severe scoliosis and kyphosis, resulting in a 270-degree curvature of her spine.

In constant pain and nearing the end of her life, Robin is dependent on oxygen and a suction machine.

Robin is non-verbal and spends most of her time at home.

She also goes for respite to LauraLynn, Ireland’s only dedicated children’s hospice.

Three years ago, when Robin was a baby, she and Agnes moved into Mill Park in Blackpool — an 80-home social housing development owned and managed by Respond.

Founded in 1982, Respond is a not-for-profit body that manages 7,700 properties.

The housing body is responsible for housing more than 17,000 tenants.

Several of the homes in Mill Park — which have been seen by this newspaper — are prone to damp and black mould.

Soon after Agnes and Robin moved into Mill Park, the heating broke down permanently in the front room, where Robin spends most of her time, and black mould developed in both bedrooms.

Despite multiple contacts with Respond over three years, no work was done in Agnes’s home.

When this newspaper highlighted the issues in Mill Park in February, Respond immediately apologised.

The housing body said: “These conditions are unacceptable, and we sincerely apologise to the tenants affected.”

Respond said it had contacted the tenants and “assured them that we will make every effort to provide alternative accommodation where needed”.

“While we are disappointed that this situation has occurred, we are committed to doing better,” a spokesperson for the housing body said.

More than six weeks since The Echo highlighted their situation, Agnes says she and Robin are no better off.

“Since ye called them again, they say they’re going to buy us a house because they have nothing suitable for [Robin’s] needs,

“But they’ve given me nothing in writing,” Agnes said.

Respond said last week it would not be issuing a further statement.

• *Names have been changed.