Sinn Féin Councillor Conor D. McGuinness has called for a standalone fund to be made available to tackle rising damp and related issues affecting much of Waterford City and County Council’s housing stock. McGuinness is the leader of Sinn Féin’s council group in Waterford and representes the party on the Housing committee.
McGuinness said:
“Dampness in houses and apartments is not just uncomfortable and unpleasant, it can have serious health impacts as well. Damp and mould can worsen respiratory conditions such as asthma and COPD. A link between mould and the develop of asthma in adults and children is currently being investigated.
“Dampness can be caused by many issues including lack of damp-proof course (DPC), poor ventilation, inefficient heating, leaks, inadequate insulation, and cold-bridging.
“Older units in particular are susceptible to rising damp as DPC would not have been placed under floors and walls, and dealing with this can be complex and costly. Newer houses may have issues with poor ventilation, that traps dampness or allows heat to escape.
“While the deep retrofit scheme attempts to remedy some of these issues, I believe it falls down by no including heat recovery ventilation – this extracts moisture from within the dwelling without removing heat in the process.
“I am keen to see an adequately funded scheme to address dampness issues in older houses and apartments by employing tailored solutions depending on house type and the cause of the damp. Simply washing and painting mould is not sufficient. Failing to address the underlying issue means that the problem will keep coming back. I am calling on Government to use some of its exchequer windfall to fund an ambitious works programme.”
Conor D. McGuinness TD 