‘Yes’ to €11m social housing revamp on Cork city's northside

Social housing tenants on Cork’s northside have voted to accept the pilot of a refurbishment programme which could potentially cost over €11m, but some have criticised the city council for previously installing a €4m heating system which they say has never worked.

At a recent public meeting, council tenants in Glenamoy Lawn and Árdbhaile, which consists of 262 homes, voted to accept a plan to upgrade their homes.

The first phase of that scheme will see 40 homes upgraded to a B2 or higher level of energy efficiency, with an average budget of €34,000 per apartment, and a maximum of €42,350.

Under the second phase of the upgrade, all of the remaining 222 homes which are below B2 level — residents claim that is all of them — will be similarly upgraded.

Phase one would cost a maximum of €1,694,000, while phase two would cost a maximum of €9,401,700, meaning the entire project would cost a maximum of €11,095,700.

Almost a decade ago, Cork City Council replaced the heating system in the estates, which had previously used an air-to-water system.

The new air-to-air system, which cost a total of €4m and was introduced between 2016 and 2017, is extremely unpopular with tenants, who have variously described it as extremely expensive to use and “completely useless”.

Local Workers’ Party councillor Ted Tynan said the council was unwilling to admit it had made a mistake with the air-to-air system.

“Tenants will take the refurbishment, but the heating system still won’t work,” he said.

Cork City Council was asked for comment.