Cllr: Togher flats' conditions 'unnacceptable'

Residents of a number of flat complexes on the southside of Cork city are living in “appalling” conditions, according to Independent councillor Albert Deasy.

He said that flat complexes in urgent need of work include homes in the Hazel Road, Sycamore Place, Cherry Tree Rd, Maple Place, Clashduv Road, and Togher Road areas.

He said that he had visited an elderly woman living alone in one of the complexes, where he said her walls and ceilings were “black with damp and mould”. He said there was also water rising up through the floor in the hallway, which he said was possibly sewage.

“The flat is freezing cold - the heating is virtually useless the moment it’s turned off, and she cannot afford to keep it running.

“She has been waiting several years for a transfer. Her doctor has confirmed in writing that these conditions are injuring her health.

“She is broken, terrified, and feels completely abandoned,” he said.

A number of other issues have been raised in the flats.

Earlier this month it was reported that a man was taken to Cork University Hospital with a suspected case of Weil’s Disease.

Leptospirosis, commonly known as Weil’s Disease, is a blood infection that is commonly associated with rat urine - however, milder forms can be picked up from cats and dogs.

It is a notifiable disease in Ireland, which means that medical practitioners must notify the Medical Officer of Health (MOH) and/or the Director of Public Health (DPH) of any occurrences.

Cllr Deasy also said that children in the area are taking steroids to treat skin conditions caused by damp in the flats, and that a man with end-stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) had passed away, which he alleged was due to the damp conditions.

The issue of the flats was also raised at the last meeting of Cork City Council.

A motion from Cllr Deasy called for the council to note “with grave concern the severe and ongoing rat infestation in the Togher Flats complexes, caused by structural defects such as collapsed sewers and defective underground pipes”.

It called on Cork City Council to “immediately rehouse all affected families to good quality, suitable accommodation in the immediate area”.

However, the council executive said that measures were being taken to address the issues for residents. The motion was voted down by the council.

Cllr Deasy said that the conditions in the flats are “unacceptable”.

“No vulnerable or elderly person should have to live in accommodation that is not fit for human habitation,” he said.

He said that he is demanding an urgent inspection of the elderly woman’s property, along with a fast-tracking of her transfer out of the accommodation.

He also called for a “proper review of council expenditure to fix these basic failures across our housing stock”.

This article was produced with the support of the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme funded by Coimisiún na Meán.