Kerry County Council spent over €2.6 million refurbishing social houses in between tenancies in 2023.
This amount was spent on 122 voids in the council’s housing stock, leaving an average refurbishment cost of around €22,000 on each property.
The figures were released to Radio Kerry under the Freedom of Information Act.
It comes as Ireland South MEP Cynthia Ní Mhurchú says she’s aware of a situation where the council removed perfectly good floors and landscaping from a house while preparing it for a new tenancy.
MEP Ní Mhurchú says she was contacted by a constituent who told her that the council removed perfectly good floors and landscaping from a social house before their tenancy.
These then had to be replaced.
Kerry County Council says when they are turning around a social house for a new tenancy, floors, carpets, landscaping, and any previous sheds built by previous owners, are generally removed.
The council said in most circumstances, the quality of the existing floors and carpets are in very poor condition due to significant wear and tear over a number of years, and are removed for hygiene and health and safety purposes for the new tenant.
It said all construction and demolition waste materials are disposed of to a licenced facility with recycling and reuse implemented where appropriate.
In 2023, the council spent over €2.66 million on refurbishing social housing in between tenancies.
This works out at an average of just under €22,000 per property, but spending on each individual property varies from just €232 on one property, up to €82,000 on another, owing to the varying condition of each property.
MEP Ní Mhurchú says she understands the council had a duty of care to a new tenant, but would be concerned to hear that the council are disposing of perfectly good wooden floors, landscaping, and other fixtures when turning around a social house for a new tenant.
She added the council should clarify that point; as it makes little sense to incur unnecessary costs and waste in an era when we value the circular economy.
The average time it took the council to turn around a social house for a new tenancy was 65 weeks, about a year and three months.
Ireland South MEP Cynthia Ní Mhurchú says this just isn't good enough in the midst of a housing crisis.
Kerry County Council said this 65-week average was detrimentally impacted by a number of high-cost legacy voids, which were refurbished that year.
