15 November 2001 Edition
Old folks left with no heat
BY NATALIE SHERIDAN
Angry residents of Mellows Court, Finglas, have slammed Dublin Corporation for the lack of heating facilities in their new homes.
The eight-unit complex is part of the Dublin Corporation re-housing scheme, which operates on the basis of eldferly people's houses been bought by Dublin Corporation and their being rehoused in accommodation more suited to their needs.
One resident living in the newly built Mellows Court paid Dublin Corporation £42,000 from the £130,00 she received after selling her home to the Corporation. Unaware that she would be left freezing cold in her new home, the 70-year-old widow thought she would be well settled in a warm environment. But the tenant says she is freezing cold at nighttime because there is just one boiler for eight homes, which only the Corporation can access.
The residents of Mellows Court were told that their heating would be on 24 hours a day but this is not the case. From 6.30am to 11.30pm heating is available but after that residents are left to freeze the whole night, causing many to feel uncomfortable and become ill.
The resident said: "I owned my own home and when my husband died I felt very lonely. At the time of moving in here I was told by Dublin Corporation that I would have heating 24-hours a day. There are many nights when I am so cold that I dread having to get up and use the bathroom and as for taking a shower at night you can forget it. The bathroom is icy cold at night. I am very angry at Dublin Corporation after the amount of money they have taken from me and I can't even get some decent heat."
Other residents from Mellows Court also face the same problem, among other complaints about the standard of accommodation.
"I spoke to a man from Dublin Corporation and all he said was 'I can turn it up for an extra hour around Christmas', another resident told An Phoblacht.
Sinn Féin Councillor Dessie Ellis is calling on Dublin Corporation to install a better heating system.
Angry residents of Mellows Court, Finglas, have slammed Dublin Corporation for the lack of heating facilities in their new homes.
The eight-unit complex is part of the Dublin Corporation re-housing scheme, which operates on the basis of eldferly people's houses been bought by Dublin Corporation and their being rehoused in accommodation more suited to their needs.
One resident living in the newly built Mellows Court paid Dublin Corporation £42,000 from the £130,00 she received after selling her home to the Corporation. Unaware that she would be left freezing cold in her new home, the 70-year-old widow thought she would be well settled in a warm environment. But the tenant says she is freezing cold at nighttime because there is just one boiler for eight homes, which only the Corporation can access.
The residents of Mellows Court were told that their heating would be on 24 hours a day but this is not the case. From 6.30am to 11.30pm heating is available but after that residents are left to freeze the whole night, causing many to feel uncomfortable and become ill.
The resident said: "I owned my own home and when my husband died I felt very lonely. At the time of moving in here I was told by Dublin Corporation that I would have heating 24-hours a day. There are many nights when I am so cold that I dread having to get up and use the bathroom and as for taking a shower at night you can forget it. The bathroom is icy cold at night. I am very angry at Dublin Corporation after the amount of money they have taken from me and I can't even get some decent heat."
Other residents from Mellows Court also face the same problem, among other complaints about the standard of accommodation.
"I spoke to a man from Dublin Corporation and all he said was 'I can turn it up for an extra hour around Christmas', another resident told An Phoblacht.
Sinn Féin Councillor Dessie Ellis is calling on Dublin Corporation to install a better heating system.