ELDERLY residents of a 35-unit purpose-built residential complex in Limerick City have no heating or running hot water due to a problem with the three-storey building’s heating system.
That’s according to Fianna Fáil councillor Catherine Slattery, who told the Limerick Post that Vizes Court tenants have been given electric heaters from Limerick Council until the problem is sorted.
“I have been contacted by a number of people regarding the heating system at Vizes Court to let me know that it is not working. The residents, most of whom are over 55, with many residents over 70, have no heating or running hot water and have been given electric heaters from the Council,” Cllr Slattery explained.
“This is not good enough in my view. I have contacted the Council and expressed my sheer disgust that our elderly are being treated this way in this day and age – no heat or hot water for days.”
The City East representative has asked the local authority to purchase a new heating system and have it installed as soon as possible.
“Obviously, the current system is not fit for purpose,” she maintained.
Cllr Slattery this week received a response from Council Director of Service Caroline Curley on the matter.
Ms Curley stated in her response: “As far as I am aware, this is not a straight forward case of just buying a new boiler as it is a district heating system. The contractors would be specialists in this area. Our primary objective would be to maintain heat to the elderly occupants hence the electric heaters. The staff are working as quickly as possible to solve the issue. I will follow this up with the staff. As soon as we are in a position to advise on timelines, we will do so.”
The Fianna Fáil woman was not at all happy with the local authority response.
“It is not satisfactory and I have again expressed my view on the matter that the Council have a duty of care to these elderly tenants and I requested that a new heating system be purchased and installed ASAP,” she concluded.
