Cork City Council seeking to 'where possible' maintain full occupancy of dilapidated flats 

Cork City Council intends to maintain full occupancy “where possible” of three blocks of dilapidated social housing flats, despite previously saying it wanted to knock them because of the housing crisis.

Cork City Council tenants have complained for years that the 60-year-old flats, which are currently located at Fort St and Dean St on the southside of the city, are prone to crumbling masonry, damp, black mould, and rodent infestation.

The tenants of the 30 flats were informed two years ago that it was Cork City Council’s preference that the buildings be “redeveloped”.

This, it said, would necessitate the temporary or permanent relocation of the current tenants.

That came after a public campaign by local tenants and housing activist William O’Brien, previously highlighted by The Echo, which resulted in a July 2023 apology by Ann Doherty, then the Cork City Council chief executive, who said she had not known about the “shocking” living conditions in the area.

On September 28, 2023, Cork City Council wrote to the tenants in the flats at Noonan’s Rd, St Finbarr’s Rd, Fort St, and Dean St.

Preference

The council said its preference was to redevelop the properties.

“This would require, on a phased basis, the temporary relocation of all residents, with an option to return to the redeveloped new homes in due course, or if they so wish, remain living at their relocated home,” the council said. “Any redevelopment will be subject to meaningful resident and community consultation, a detailed design process and central government funding.”

More than two years on, most of the 60 flats on Noonan’s Rd and the 24 on St Finbarr’s Rd have been vacated, but the majority of the flats on Fort St and Dean St are still occupied.

A spokesperson for Cork City Council said one tenant had been moved into the Fort St and Dean St flats, in July 2024. They said the council was “decanting” the last tenants from Noonan’s Rd and St Finbarr’s Rd, “a complex and protracted process that has involved extensive engagement and consultation with individual tenants”.

“While that decanting process has been ongoing, demolition works for the vacated blocks has been tendered, and the first phase of demolition is expected to take place in early 2026,” they said.

They noted that the regeneration works would deliver “significant additional housing units on the Noonan’s Road site” but added that the future of the Fort St and Dean St flats would be considered as part of the broader regeneration plans for the area.

“The most appropriate remediation route for these complexes — whether that is refurbishment or full redevelopment — will be identified as part of that process,” they said.

Full occupancy

However, they added, given the scale of the housing crisis, the council was “seeking to continue full occupancy at the Fort St and Dean St complexes, where possible”.

“A small number of units are under repair with a view to reletting once the repair works are completed.”

Community activist William O’Brien said he was “deeply disappointed” by the council statement.

“Delaying regeneration does not postpone change, it prolongs hardship,” he said.

“Fort St and Dean St residents are not asking for special treatment, they are asking for dignity, fairness, and certainty about their future. The council must now take responsibility.”

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire, Sinn Féin TD for Cork South Central, said he was “somewhat concerned” at the council statement.

“It does seem like a step back from the plan that had been there,” he said.

“We are anxious to see a full regeneration of the area, and this is not a model of flat that has been easily renovated elsewhere.

“We need to hear from the council exactly how they intend for the tenants in Fort St and Dean St to enjoy modern, warm, decent living conditions, because in my view, that’s certainly not the situation at the minute. The conditions there are not in any way good enough.”