Archive - Kilkenny people living in flats unfit for human habitation (1974)
September 27, 1974
Of 200 people surveyed for houses in Kilkenny, 50% were found to be living in flats judged by the Health Inspector to be unfit for human habitation - and desperately overcrowded.
This was just one of the startling facts revealed in a report submitted to Monday’s meeting of Kilkenny Corporation by the Kilkenny Flat Dwellers’ Association.
Fr Jim Forristal, who led a deputation from the Association, said that 50 flats had been visited during a survey and two-thirds failed to measure up to bye-law requirements.
The survey showed that 40 flats of two storeys or more had no fire escape, while 30 flats were without adequate bathroom and toilet facilities.
Many flats were infested by mice, some by rats, while many tenants had to store food and clothing in suitcases as no storage facilities were provided.
Some 20 flats had insufficient natural lighting and no ventilation. In 25 to 30 flats nothing had been done by the landlord to control severe dampness. And in some cases windows were falling apart because of dampness.
The report went on: “For poorer types of flats the rent scale ranged from £5 to £9.50. Many of the tenants in these poorer flats are young married couples with one or two children.
“The policy of the Government is to help and encourage people to build up their own houses, a policy which is rendered totally hypocritical unless some action is taken on the flat situation since these young couples are paying out money which could be going towards a deposit towards a house.”
“These couples are particularly vulnerable to exploitation and intimidation to unscrupulous landlords.
“The Association feels that the Corporation should do all in its power to protect these couples.”
POSTMAN RETIRES
A man who has travelled well over 100,000 miles in his days as a postman has just retired after 23 years in the navy blue suit.
John Buggy, Ardaloo, has just delivered his last letter in the Threecastles area. He also brought the post to the people of Jenkinstown.
With over 100 years family service to the Department of Posts and Telegraphs, John succeeded his father and grandfather on their routes.
He was no mean hurler in his day either. Holder of a Leinster minor hurling medal he won county intermediate honours with Conahy and junior medals with Threecastles.