Elderly people in Cork city facility left without heating for three weeks

Elderly people living in a sheltered housing facility on Cork’s northside have been left without heating for three weeks due to low water pressure in the area, The Echo has learned.

The Árd na Rí sheltered apartment complex in Farranree currently has 38 residents, all over 60 years of age, with several of them considered to be vulnerable.

It is understood that, over the last few weeks, the complex has been coping with low water pressure, leaving some residents in upper apartments without heating or hot water.

It is believed that recent works carried out by Uisce Éireann led to an adjustment of the pressure-relieving valve for the area, lowering water pressure in the area.

Several Farranree residents confirmed to The Echo that local water pressure has been low over the past number of weeks.

With water pressure too low to drive Árd na Rí’s boilers to heat the upper part of the complex, some residents have been without heating and hot water in their homes for the past three weeks.

Árd na Rí, which is run by the non-profit Farranree Sheltered Housing Association, also has a day care centre.

Kenneth Collins, Sinn Féin city councillor for the north-west ward, said he had been contacted by a number of residents who said they had been without heating and hot water for weeks.

“These are vulnerable older people – the average age in Árd na Rí is 75 – and they are living in what everyone agrees is a fantastic facility, but they’re being let down very badly by Irish Water – Uisce Éireann,” Mr Collins said.

“The residents told me they’ve had no heating, through no fault of the management and staff at Árd na Rí. They’ve had no hot water and they told me they haven’t been able to wash their hair, or to bathe, and they haven’t been able to run a washing machine, because they haven’t got the necessary water pressure up to their flats.”

Mr Collins said it was his understanding that Cork City Council’s workers had done “outstanding” work to rectify the problem with water pressure in the area, but the issue remained with Uisce Éireann.

“I’m calling on Uisce Éireann to step up immediately and turn up the water pressure for Árd na Rí so these people can be allowed the dignity that is their basic human right,” he said.

Water quality and supply have been major issues in Cork city since the summer of 2022, when Irish Water opened its €40m Lee Rd water treatment plant.

In late 2022, Irish Water – now Uisce Éireann – told The Echo that an adjustment of chemicals used in water preparation at the Lee Rd plant had caused rusty sediment to be stripped from the inside of the city’s ageing cast-iron water mains, resulting in discoloured water in homes across Cork city. It was later stated that high water pressure had also affected the city’s water quality.

An Uisce Éireann spokesperson said the company was aware of reports of low pressure affecting the Farranree area.

“Our operational crews are carrying out investigations to determine the cause of the issue.

“We understand the inconvenience for affected customers and are grateful for their support while we work to restore normal water supply,” they said.

Farranree Sheltered Housing Association was asked for comment, as was Cork City Council.