Confusion surrounds the responsibility for maintenance at an Ennis retirement village.
Residents have flagged the matter with Cllr Pat Daly (FF) who tabled a motion before the Ennis Municipal District seeking detail to determine “who is responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of the bungalows at Pairc Na Coille”.
Clare County Council has a twenty year lease agreement in place for the properties at Pairc na Coille, senior executive officer Siobhán McNulty confirmed. “The Council are leasing the individual properties and are responsible for general maintenance and the upkeep of the properties. Structural issues remain the responsibility of the property owner. The properties have a BER rating of C3, this rating generally in-line with the standard achieved by Clare County Council following energy efficiency upgrade”.
Following an inspection to some properties, the local authority has committed to service the gas boilers and while undertaking works lay additional attic insulation to improve the level of comfort for the tenants. The start of these works are dependent on the easing of Level 5 restrictions.
Mayor of Ennis, Cllr Paul Murphy (FG) quipped at the meeting that Cllr Daly may have been “looking for one of the houses yourself” to which he responded, “you never know”. The Ennis representative outlined that the residents were confused regarding the responsibility when it comes to upkeep in the area.
“It is a lovely place. People are as happy as can be in there, the residents get on so well. It is very important because the residents are older people who have down sized,” Cllr Mary Howard (FG) stated.
