Cork County Council refutes TDs’ claims of shortage in maintenance funds

Two Cork TDs have been told that Cork County Council has insufficient maintenance funding to take requests to repair issues in social housing, but the council insists that this is not the case.

On Tuesday, Labour TD Eoghan Kenny called on housing minister James Browne to introduce emergency funding to local authorities including Cork County Council, after he was told while pursuing a maintenance request for a constituent that the budget had run out for requests other than emergencies.

He said: “It is totally unacceptable that in the midst of a decade-long housing emergency that a local authority would not have a sufficient budget to maintain the properties they are responsible for, with so many people living in council housing in such need for maintenance works in their homes.

Health

“This will have an adverse effect on residents in terms of their health, particularly where residents are experiencing damp and mould.

“It is the responsibility of local authorities to ensure the housing they provide is of an acceptable standard.”

Independent Ireland TD Ken O’Flynn said he was also told by a council staff member that the council has exhausted its annual housing repair budget.

“This is nothing short of a scandal,” he said.

“We are halfway through the year, and Cork County Council has no money left to repair local authority homes.

“That means broken windows, leaking roofs, damp walls, unsafe electrics, and vulnerable tenants left without help.”

Mr O’Flynn also called for a full review of how housing maintenance budgets are calculated and distributed, pointing to Cork’s growing population, ageing housing stock, and increased maintenance demand.

However, a council spokesperson told The Echo: “Cork County Council has not run out of funding for housing maintenance.

“The council continues to respond to repairs requests and its planned maintenance programme for 2025 is ongoing.

“Repairs and maintenance continue to be prioritised having regard to the needs of the tenant and the nature of the works required.”

Mr Kenny told The Echo: “If county council is informing people that there is enough funding, why have I been contacted about 30 issues that they’re saying can’t be solved because funding isn’t available?”