18 December 2003: The twelve applicants whose ‘affordable houses’ on the Naas Town Council’s Caragh Road scheme have developed surface plaster defects, will not have to pay to have the walls repaired.
This emerged at Tuesday's December monthly meeting of the Council when town clerk Declan Kirrane confirmed ‘there will be no additional costs to the Council’. He said any additional costs will be borne by the contractor.
Work on replastering the twelve houses has not yet begun.
Council officials met with the architects the previous day to discuss the defects.
Members were told that to date, the defect had not shown up in the other 40 ‘affordable houses’ but Mr Kirrane said there is a possibility that it could appear in them.
Tests on the remaining houses by a specialist firm hired by the architects were completed on site on Monday ‘and laboratory tests will continue until the second week in January.’
Mr Kirrane said the final report will be available mid January ‘when we will be able to finalise the contracts and have those people in by the end of January or early February’.
“We have to determine the extent of the remedial works and that is being discussed now between the architect and the builder.”
Some 40 affordable houses will be handed over in early February. The first phase of the 63 Social Houses will be ready in May with the second phase in August 2004. They are the most up-to-date handing over dates available from the architect.”
Cllr Eibhlin Bracken angrily demanded clarification on the €2,500 deposits paid for the houses and the interest involved. She drew the ire of the Mayor and the town clerk who told her “We’re not handling the finance. That’s Kildare County Council.”
Cllr Bracken retorted “Can we ask KCC to refund people the interest?”
The town clerk was ‘offended’ by her attitude. “We have done everything in our power to try and resolve the matter,” he told her. “We will not hand over a house unless we are 110% satisfied about the structure and condition.”
Cllr Timmy Conway said ‘the way this whole episode has been handled to me is a bloody disgrace’ while Cllr Seamie Moore saw the deposit ‘as securing the houses for people when they become available’. However, he said there is ‘a big question mark over the total project as such’.
He was reminded by the Mayor that ‘neither Naas Town Council nor the purchaser will be out of pocket’.
Cllr Anthony Egan said they should not criticise the ‘short delay’ to ensure the houses are in perfect order when handed over.
Cllr Charlie Byrne said the Council cannot be blamed but ‘this is like Delaney’s Donkey’. “Is the contractor responsible for time wasting and inconvenience caused to those who tried to buy a house for themselves?" He felt responsibility must lie with those overseeing the work and the materials used. “Was it properly looked at?” he asked.
Cllr Willie Callaghan remained unconvinced ‘it’s not going to be a white elephant’. He asked if the plaster work in the 63 social houses to be handed over in May has been examined for similar defects.
Mr Kirrane replied that the first phase of the Social houses has been tested and no defects found. “We have made every effort to try and have people in the houses before Christmas and I appreciate the inconvenience and discomfort this has caused to people, and to their relatives. But we want to hand over a house that will be entirely satisfactory when people do get it.”
Finding a name for the Social housing scheme has been postponed for now.
