A total of 126 inspections have been carried out on Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) accommodation in Laois.
There are currently 288 tenants of the HAP scheme in Laois, the monthly meeting of Laois County Council heard.
Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley had a motion before the meeting seeking an update on how many inspections have been carried out on these private rented units, and how many are left to be carried out.
“Nothing serious,” had been found during the inspection, housing officer Ian McCormack said.
“Most of the properties are a bit old,” he said.
Issues such as missing fire blankets and properties which could have better ventilation, were all that was found, he said.
“It was more cosmetic issues, definitely nothing serious,” he said.
“Substantial public money,” is being paid for such properties, Cllr Dwane Stanley said.
“It is important that tenants are in suitable accommodation,” she said.
“Some of them are living in old houses that need to be brought up to standard,” she said.
Resources
She questioned if there are enough resources to carry out the inspections.
“I would be happy enough,” Mr McCormack said, as they are ahead of schedule.
However, there was a strong reaction to the fact that a council clerk of works is looking after the matter.
Cllr Catherine Fitzgerald questioned if they need extra staff.
Cllr Dwane Stanley agreed. “We don’t want to see resources being taken away. It’s extra resources we want,” she said.
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