Lynch welcomes Taoiseach’s support for Cork flats regeneration

A commitment by the Taoiseach to support the regeneration of dilapidated social housing flats in his constituency has been described as welcome by a local opposition councillor.

Micheál Martin made the commitment last week in response to Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald, after she raised the matter in the Dáil.

Speaking at leaders’ questions to Mr Martin, Ms McDonald said she had met with tenants in the council flats on the Clashduv Rd during a visit to Togher in May.

Residents there, in common with tenants in flats of a similar age in places such as Noonan’s Rd, Cherry Tree Rd, and Baker’s Rd, have been complaining for years about crumbling masonry, mould, damp, and regular rodent infestation.

Ms McDonald told the Taoiseach she believed urgent regeneration was needed for the Togher flat complexes.

“Will the Taoiseach support this and will he ensure the funding is made available to the local authority to carry out that work?” she asked.

Responding, Mr Martin said that Cork City Council had a good record generally on regeneration, and he alluded to the successful regeneration of the Dean Rock estate, which was completed in 2020, but he acknowledged it had not included the Cherry Tree Rd or Clashduv Rd flats.

“I would, of course, support the regeneration of those flats,” he said.

Sinn Féin councillor for the South West ward, Joe Lynch, said he welcomed apparent progress in relation to the Togher flats.

He said: “Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire and I have been banging the drum on the terrible conditions that residents of flat complexes in Togher have been facing for some time, including those at the Clashduv Rd, Cherry Tree Rd, Sycamore Pl, Maple Pl, and Hazel Rd.

“There are persistent issues in most of the flat complexes with subsidence, damaged balconies and roofs, damp, mould, rodent infestations, and maintenance problems.”

Mr Lynch said the condition of the flats was no reflection on the residents, but rather was down to the flats being well beyond their envisaged lifespans and in dire need of regeneration.

“The Taoiseach’s comments in the Dáil last week, stating that he would support funding the regeneration of the flats, are welcome,” he said.

“This has been followed by Cork City Council stating — in a new report — that it is ‘at the early stages of reviewing this longer-term strategic refurbishment opportunity’.

“Taking these developments together, things are moving in the right direction.

“It’s time to seize the momentum and for the council, with Government support, to quickly advance this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to deliver regeneration of the flat complexes in Togher; improving the lives of workers and families living in the community.”

A spokesperson for Cork City Council said its housing directorate was continuing to prioritise maintenance requests at the Togher flats, but the council was aware of the need for a longer-term renovation of those social housing apartment complexes.

It said it was at the early stages of reviewing this “longer-term strategic refurbishment opportunity”, and the housing directorate would ensure that council members were fully informed as soon as any strategy was developed.

“It should be noted that this will be a longer-term programme, requiring careful design and sustainable remediation, as well as needing significant additional funding,” they added.