Terminally-ill child languishing in damp-ridden Cork home

A year after a housing charity apologised to the mother of a terminally-ill child for conditions in their mould and damp-prone Cork home, the family remains in the same poorly-heated apartment.

Last February, housing body Respond apologised to Agnes and her then four-year-old daughter Robin (names have been changed) after Agnes told The Echo conditions in their rented home were worsening Robin’s suffering.

Robin, who is non-verbal, was born with a rare and terminal illness, and also suffers from a 270-degree curvature of her spine. In constant pain and nearing the end of her life, she is dependent on oxygen and a suction machine.

Respond said it had made a number of offers of alternative accommodation, but Agnes said none of them were suitable to their needs.

In summer 2022, Agnes and Robin moved into Mill Park in Blackpool, an 80-home social housing development owned and managed by Respond, a not-for-profit that manages 8,146 properties nationally, with more than 19,500 tenants.

When this newspaper highlighted the issues with mould and damp in Mill Park last year, Respond said: “These conditions are unacceptable, and we sincerely apologise to the tenants affected.” Respond said it had assured tenants it would “make every effort to provide alternative accommodation where needed”.

A year on, Agnes says that despite a promise by Respond to buy them a new home, they have still not been offered suitable alternative accommodation.

“They installed an extractor fan in the living room, where Robin spends most of her time, and while that has improved the situation a small bit, the heating is still not working properly and there is still damp and mould on the windowsills and in the two bedrooms,” she said.

The Department of Housing said responsibility for enforcement of minimum standards in rented accommodation provided by approved housing bodies lies with local authorities, in this case Cork City Council.

Those minimum standards state that a “building must be free from damp” and “must have adequate ventilation and heating”. The council was asked for comment.

Respond said it was “acutely aware of the very difficult circumstances facing this family” and its primary concern was Robin’s wellbeing.

“Over the past year, both Respond and Cork City Council have worked closely together to identify alternative accommodation that would better meet the family’s needs. 

"This has included offers of a three-bedroom specially adapted property and a three-bedroom bungalow. These options were declined,” they said.

Agnes disputed this, saying that among the accommodations offered, there was only one three-bedroom property, which was “dilapidated and completely unsuitable, with no parking”.

Respond said that, with housing stock limited, and Robin needing to be within proximity of HSE supports, a long-term solution would require continued collaboration across several agencies.

Respond added that it had also offered to undertake more extensive improvement works at Agnes's current home. 

"To facilitate those works, temporary decanting would have been required, and the family decided not to move out at that time," they said.

“We remain committed to working constructively with the family, Cork City Council, and other relevant agencies to find a suitable solution,” they added.