REVEALED: How much is council spending to fix up vacant homes in Limerick?
Homelessness campaigner wants to see less spend on restoration of homes - and quicker re-lets
COUNCIL is spending almost €42,000 in refurbishing vacant homes before they are let out again to people on the housing waiting list.
The figures were given to councillor Sarah Beasley, who believes a cut in the spend of housing maintenance could make them become available to new householders more quickly.
“I believe if there is a good building energy rating and a house is warm, people just want a set of keys to call their own and a front door to close,” she said.
Cllr Beasley argued many people on the council’s list don’t want to wait - they want to move in.
As a result of this, she believes council tenants could do some of the refurbishment themselves.
“Years ago, you used to just get a key and you had to do the property up like any private tenant or anyone who had a mortgage. The husband could put down the flooring, do a bit of painting,” she said.
“But they are ripping out brand new kitchens five years old out of some properties, boarding them up again, putting in a new kitchen, putting in a new bathroom.”
“People aren't being greedy in what they expect from a council property. They just want a house which is warm and they'll do the best themselves,” Cllr Beasley added.
She said money saved on big refurbishment could be used on fixing roads and other things.
The cost of refurbishing a house in 2019 was €32,000, the council figures showed.
Meanwhile, Cllr Beasley’s Aontu party have confirmed that she will be running in the general election.
With voters in Ireland set to go to the polls either this year or early next year to elect a new Dail, she will be hoping to secure two election wins in the space of 12 months.
The homelessness campaigner won Aontu’s first council seat on the northside in June.
In contesting the four-seat City constituency, she will go up against Sinn Fein TD Maurice Quinlivan, who she previously worked for.
Cllr Beasley says if Aontu is in coalition with any party, they will push for a new emergency department to open in the Mid-West.
“Limerick has the potential to be the jewel in the crown of the Mid West, but rising crime and anti-social behaviour is a blight on the city. This can be tackled by gardai on our streets and investing in youth programmes to divert children and young people away from a dangerous and damaging life of crime,” she said.