Dublin People - Families express anger over housing delay

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Families express anger over housing delay

Monday, 24 March 2008

OVER 40 families are still waiting to move into their new homes after problems with a contractor led to delays in the completion of a major social and affordable housing development on the Northside.
Fingal County Council has admitted that work on the new 44-unit affordable and social housing estate at Parkvale, directly beside Pobailscoil Neasan in Baldoyle, has ground to a halt.
The council said it is actively seeking a new developer to finish off the estate after it was forced to terminate the previous contract due to difficulties.
The news comes as a frustrated mother-of-two told Northside People about the agonising wait she has had to endure after being promised a home in the new estate almost a year ago.

Geraldine Delaney, who is currently living in rented accommodation in Howth, said she and her two sons could find themselves with nowhere to live next month.
Ms Delaney, who has been on the council’s housing waiting list for the past 11 years, said she was notified last June that she had been successful in getting a two-bed property at Parkvale.
“The council said we would be moving into our new home by October 2007 but that date came and went and we are still waiting to hear back from them,” Ms Delaney stated.
“I have been up and down to the new estate in Baldoyle many times since, but the last time I actually saw workmen on site was in November.
“It is a total nightmare now, as we just don’t know when we can even prepare to move in.”
Ms Delaney said she would have to move from her rented accommodation in Howth next month.
“One of the worst things about all of this for me is that the house we are currently living in is to be put up for sale from next month,” she said.
“We have been living here for the past eight years and I own practically everything we have here.
“I don’t have anything set up and can’t afford to buy storage space for all our belongings, so we are pretty much left in limbo.”
Ms Delaney’s eldest son will be sitting his Junior Certificate examinations this year.
“It is hardly the ideal situation for him and every week he is wondering when we are going to be able to move into our new home,” she added.
Dick Brady, director of services at Fingal County Council’s housing department, said the council was acutely aware of the stress the delay in completion of the works was causing housing applicants that were allocated tenancies at Parkvale.
“The allocations were made by the council in good faith, having regard to the builders’ completion forecast schedule,
and the council’s desire to afford families the maximum time to prepare for the move into their new home,” Mr Brady stated.
“Unfortunately, due to difficulties that arose in completing the works contract, the forecast schedule was not met and instead of a maximum time to prepare to move into their new homes, our applicants find themselves in a frustrating period of delay and wait.”
Mr Brady said the council would like to place on record its appreciation for the forbearance and patience shown by the board, principal, staff and pupils of Pobailscoil Neasan and those allocated homes within the development.
“It is hoped to formally appoint a contractor in the very near future who can begin the completion work on the site directly after Easter,” Mr Brady stated.
“An important condition of any contractor taking on the completion work at this stage will be that they ensure that the work is done as soon as possible and to the proper standard.
“It is the council’s intention to make sure that the bulk of work is completed before the end of the current school year, as no heavy work will happen while exams are going on in June.”
Mr Brady added that the remaining work would be completed once the exams at Pobalscoil Neasan are finished.
Dublin North East TD Tommy Broughan (Lab) said the housing applicants were astonished at the length of time it was taking to complete the development.
“I am requesting that Fingal County Council completes the new Parkvale estate without further delay and ensures that the new householders who have successfully applied for the housing units will be able to enjoy their new homes before the end of this summer,” stated Deputy Broughan.

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