People Before Profit Councillor Madeleine Johansson has voiced serious concerns over the inadequate response times for housing maintenance in South Dublin County Council (SDCC), particularly in the Balgaddy area. Speaking following the latest meeting of the Lucan/Palmerstown/North Clondalkin Area Committee on Tuesday, January 28, 2025, Cllr Johansson highlighted the ongoing delays tenants face when requesting essential repairs. In response to these issues, she tabled a motion calling on SDCC to ensure that all maintenance requests assigned to a contractor in Balgaddy are completed within four weeks of being logged.
Councillor Johansson criticised the Council’s current approach, pointing to a pattern of maintenance requests going unanswered for extended periods, leaving tenants frustrated and struggling with persistent issues in their homes. “There is a clear and unacceptable pattern of maintenance requests not being responded to in a timely manner. Many tenants have to contact the Council multiple times before any action is taken, and in some cases, their requests are ignored entirely. This is not good enough. People deserve safe and well-maintained homes, and it is the Council’s responsibility to deliver that. Tenants should not have to contact councillors in order to get issues fixed.” said Cllr Johansson.
While SDCC has outlined response timelines for various categories of repairs, reports from residents indicate that these targets are frequently missed. In 2024, 639 work orders were completed in Balgaddy, but ongoing complaints suggest that many tenants continue to experience unacceptable delays.
Cllr Johansson is urging the Council to adopt a more proactive approach, ensuring that all maintenance issues are resolved swiftly and effectively. “A four-week timeframe for contractor-assigned repairs in Balgaddy is a reasonable request. The Council needs to step up and prioritise the basic needs of tenants who have been waiting far too long for necessary repairs,” she concluded.
