Council tenants to stage protest over 'appalling' condition of dilapidated Cork city flats  

Residents of dilapidated southside social housing flats are to stage a protest this evening, against what have been called “appalling” housing conditions.

The flats, at Togher Rd, Clashduv Rd, Sycamore Place, Cherry Tree Rd, and Maple Place, are the same age and design as the dilapidated Noonan’s Rd flats, which the council intends to begin demolishing shortly.

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire, Sinn Féin TD for Cork South Central, said residents were only protesting because they had been left with no other option.

“They’re putting up with appalling conditions for years and years, promised reports and so on, but ultimately what we need is a clear timeline for action from the council,” he said.

“We need regeneration. It’s totally unacceptable that people are living in the 21st century in flats that are damp and cold, and some have issues with rodents.

“I firmly support the residents in taking to the streets and advancing their campaign, because for too long people have been fobbed off.”

The Togher flats are of the three-storey maisonette style introduced in the 1960s by the then city architect Eamon O’Byrne, and were built by Cork Corporation to have a 50-year lifespan.

Well past use-by date

The flats are now, tenants say, well past their use-by date and are prone to cold, damp, black mould, and — in several cases — vermin.

Last December, The Echo surveyed Cork City Council tenants living in the 160 O’Byrne flats across the city, receiving responses from 59% of tenants.

Persistent issues with rats and mice were cited by 65% of respondents, with 85% having trouble heating their home, and 85% saying black mould was a recurring issue.

Health problems caused or exacerbated by living conditions were cited by 72%.

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

It said it was 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.