People Before Profit has called out South Dublin County Council’s reliance on outsourcing for the repair and maintenance of council homes, labelling it inefficient and costly. Figures obtained from South Dublin County Council show that nearly half of the Council’s 2024 maintenance and refurbishment budget—€10.22 million of €20.47 million— is allocated to outsourced services.
People Before Profit Councillors Madeleine Johansson and Darragh Adelaide shared insights from their direct interactions with council tenants. “We’ve spoken with numerous tenants who have been waiting months for contractors to handle essential repairs, only to find that work is often subpar, requiring additional fixes. Residents are left in unacceptable living conditions due to prolonged waiting periods due to reliance on outsourced labour.
People Before Profit have been campaigning to reduce maintenance waiting times. Gino Kenny TD emphasized the importance of investing in direct employment within the council: “The government has a significant budget surplus, which could be put to meaningful use by employing more council workers to handle repairs. This would not only cut waiting times but ensure quality maintenance and better living conditions for tenants.”
