Upgrade of one Respond home cost ‘six-figure sum’

A State-supported housing body paid a six-figure sum to retrofit one residential property in Athlone's Sarsfield Square.

The financial outlay was confirmed by the Director of Respond Housing Association Neil Bolton during a presentation to elected members of the Athlone-Moate Municipal District regarding vacant properties in the Athlone estate.

Respond manages 16 houses in Sarsfield Square, four of which have been vacant for some time, and it has been the subject of criticism from the District's elected members, many of whom have referenced the poor condition of the properties at previous meetings.

The housing agency acquired the properties from the Athlone and District Housing Association in 2017 and said it is "exploring all options" to ensure the houses are returned to as living standard.

"We would hope, that in consultation with the local authority, we can find a solution for these properties in Sarsfield Square," Mr Bolton said.

The Housing Agency Director confirmed that a "sum of six figures" had been spent on retrofitting and refurbishing one of the 12 Sarsfield Square properties in which there are occupants.

"The retrofit and refurbishment of the property is a model of what can be achieved but it cost a six-figure sum to get the house to the energy level upgrade required," Mr Bolton said. The Director said that Respond were "exploring funding options" for the remaining Sarsfield Square properties, but added that financial support from Government was not readily accessible.

"We want to ensure that people thrive in these homes, but they require significant investment to raise the quality of living standards. We are committed to engage with the tenants and work with the Department of Housing to source funding for this project, but I am keen to hear from the elected members on the way forward for these properties," Mr Bolton said.

Cllr Aengus O'Rourke, a long-time advocate for the upgrade of the Sarsfield Square properties under the management of Respond, stated that it was "essential" that both parties work together to "find a solution" for the 16 houses.

The Cllr proposed that the four unoccupied houses be placed on the property market and the funds raised from their sale be used to upgrade to 12 remaining homes.

"The four unoccupied properties have been idle for 26 years, while the 12 remaining homes have not received the required investment. I believe my proposal is feasible and I would like Respond to give it serious consideration," Cllr O'Rourke said.

Stating that there had been minimal progress "over a long period of time" from Respond regarding the Sarsfield Square properties, Cllr O'Rourke acknowledged that the housing agency had not received adequate support from the Government. "I have written to three Ministers and Senators on this issue and received no responses and there also appears to be no route to access funding for these properties.

"If the four unoccupied properties are placed on the market I am sure they will be sold in weeks and we can then use the money to refurbish the 12 remaining houses. It's a homemade solution to this ongoing issue," Cllr O'Rourke said.

Cllr Frankie Keena queried if the funding model for the refurbishment of such properties was no longer working.

"Why can't we avail of funding to upgrade these houses? Is there no funding we can access to refurbish existing properties?" Cllr Keena said.

Although the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) contributed towards the refurbishment of the Sarsfield Square property, the Respond Director said that there was no Government funding model in existence to retrofit existing houses.

"There is a funding stream for new homes. However, we have to explore the level of funding to meet the refurbishment of long-term properties requiring energy upgrades. We are currently trying to address this situation with the Government," Mr Bolton added.

Empathising with the Respond Director, Cllr O'Rourke called on the elected members to write to the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy James Browne, requesting support for housing agencies to access funding to retrofit and refurbish existing properties.

"No existing properties should be left idle in the middle of a housing crisis and relevant funding must be accessed as a matter of urgency," Cllr O'Rourke stated.