Gavin Ryan calls on Tipperary County Council to deal with 'damp' related issues in houses

Sinn Féin local election candidate for the Newport Local Electoral Area Gavin Ryan has called on Tipperary County Council to establish a fund aimed at tackling issues related to damp in the council housing stock.

Gavin said: “As I engage with the local people of Newport and the surrounding areas during my canvassing efforts, one pressing issue that continues to emerge is the pervasive problem of dampness within our communities.

“Today, I am urging Tipperary County Council to act by establishing a dedicated fund aimed at tackling this persistent issue within our housing stock. Such funds have been implemented in recent months in Waterford and Louth.”

“Dampness is not merely a matter of inconvenience; it poses significant health risks to our residents. Research has unequivocally linked damp and mould to respiratory conditions such as asthma and COPD, highlighting the urgent need for council intervention.”

“The causes of dampness are complex, ranging from inadequate damp-proofing measures to poor ventilation, leaks, insulation deficiencies, and cold-bridging. Older homes, in particular, bear the brunt of these issues, while newer constructions often suffer from ventilation shortcomings that exacerbate dampness problems.”

“While existing initiatives like the retrofit scheme are commendable, they fall short of addressing critical solutions such as heat recovery ventilation.”

“To confront these challenges head-on, I am advocating for the establishment of a strongly funded program specifically tailored to address the diverse needs of different property types, in particular our older housing stock, which have underlying issues with dampness.”

“In terms of the private renter’s market, at the Sinn Féin 2023 Ard Fheis, my colleague Cllr. Joanna Bryne in Louth had a motion passed calling for our current government to implement minimum energy efficiency standards in legislation including putting in place strict timelines on both public and private landlords to deal with issues such as damp and mould.”

“We have a budget surplus, this is where the funds should be allocated to. While public and private rental properties are required to meet a certain standard before they are let out, there's nothing stopping unscrupulous letting agents papering over the cracks or literally painting over the damp to pass initial inspections.

“Once the property has been let there is nothing in Irish legislation strong enough to force those unscrupulous letting agents/landlords to fix those problems within a specific timeframe. Approved housing bodies and local housing authorities are likewise currently free to put repairs on the long finger.”