Urgent action needed on Polerone

Fianna Fáil TD for Carlow/Kilkenny Bobby Aylward says residents of an eco-friendly local authority estate are living in danger due to a lack of sufficient heating in the homes.

Deputy Aylward is calling on Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government Simon Coveney to take urgent action to address the problem.

The local TD made the comments after raising the issue with Minister Coveney through a Dáil parliamentary question.

“Residents of Polerone Green in Mooncoin have been living without a functioning heating system for nearly 8 years now,” he said.

“A wood burning heating system was originally installed in the eco-friendly estate, but these have been classified as a health hazard by an independent report commissioned by the local authority.

Accordingly these heating systems cannot be used to warm the homes in this estate.

“I tabled a question to Minister Coveney on this issue to ask him why his department is yet to approve funding to fix this problem. I understand that the department must examine all requests for funding from local authorities, but nonetheless the Minister needs to recognise the seriousness of this situation.

“Concerned residents, some of whom are elderly, are facing into their eight winter without sufficient heating in their homes. These botched heating systems need to be replaced without any further delay.

"Minister Coveney has confirmed to me that his department will shortly be in contact with Kilkenny County Council to discuss the allocation of funding for these repair works. I will continue to raise this issue with the Minister until we get a satisfactory outcome,” said Deputy Aylward.