Duncan frustrated over housing repair delays

A Mullingar councillor has complained over the length of time it is taking to have maintenance problems in local authority houses attended to.

“I understand [the staff] are under serious pressure, but to be honest, I have a huge number of people with issues that simply we’re getting nowhere with,” Cllr Andrew Duncan stated at the December meeting of the Municipal District of Mullingar Kinnegad, where he asked for an update on the length of time it takes to respond to housing maintenance problems.

What was concerning him, he continued, was that in the case of some heating system problems he has reported, he fears that one of the cases is actually “dangerous”.

“There’s a raft of things. And I’ve done it ‘the right way’. I’ve spoken to the right people, but unfortunately, there’s none of these being picked up. So I have to try and get to the bottom of what the delay is.”

Cllr Duncan asked if the issue was one of staff shortages, and told officials it is “very frustrating” to have to keep going back to people and explain to them that he is chasing up their complaint but getting nowhere.

The official written response provided by the district stated that repairs to council properties are logged and assessed by the clerks of works in the Housing Section.

They are logged in order of priority and in cases of deemed ‘emergency’, in which there is a possibility of injury to the occupant or the general public, the contractor responds within 24 hours,

‘Urgent’ cases, where there is a risk of the property being seriously damaged, are meant to receive a response within five working days; for ‘routine’ repairs – works needed but not an emergency or urgent – requests are logged and scheduled as soon as resources become available.

The response went on to explain that for ‘planned’ works (multi-annual maintenance programme), a programme is scheduled and addressed subject to availability of funding.

“The Housing Section is currently engaging with the contractors to address outstanding repairs. A new contract is also scheduled to be in place from 2026 with separate contractors being appointed for each of the Districts, Athlone Moate, and Mullingar Kinnegad,” the reply concluded.

Mullingar issues

At the same meeting, Cllr Andrew Duncan sought an update on tree maintenance at the rear of Hillside Drive. The Municipal District said the trees will be examined and pruned as part of routine maintenance during the appropriate season.

Cllr Duncan also requested clarity on when pedestrian crossings would be installed on the C link and Ashe Road to serve the new Farranshock and Greville Park estates. The district confirmed that it is working with the developer to install three crossings at the location, and the lights are expected to be commissioned in December 2025.

Hawthorn Crescent

A claim that Hawthorn Crescent is being used as “a speedway” was made by Cllr Duncan as he spoke on his motion calling for the introduction of traffic calming measures there. “Even a speed ramp would be majorly significant in that area for the minute,” he said.

The official written response from the district stated that the provision of traffic calming measures as part of the 2026 estimates would be considered. Cllr Ken Glynn supported the motion, as did Cllr Julie McCourt, noting that some speed ramps have already been installed.

The mayor, Cllr Mick Dollard, was of the view that more lights and additional signage are also required at that location.