LIMERICK City and County Council is to undertake a survey of houses on Convent Street in the city’s medieval quarter to ascertain what renovation works are required for each property.
The first stage of the process, which gets under way this Thursday, will see the assessment of all Council properties in the area with renovation work to follow.
Fianna Fáil TD Willie O’Dea and City North local election candidate Christy McInerney have had several meetings with local residents and highlighted their ongoing concerns with the council.
“Residents in the Convent Street area are paying their rent and are entitled to a good standard of accommodation. Convent Street is a prime tourist area situated alongside King John’s Castle and as such there is an extra incentive for the Council to have the houses in a good standard both on the inside and outside,” Deputy O’Dea told the Limerick Post.
“Thankfully, the Council have now agreed to send in a surveyor this Thursday to begin the process of eventually improving the living standards of the residents of Convent Street.”
Mr McInerney believes refurbishment work at Convent Street is well overdue.
“I am delighted to see that a process of surveying the properties will commence. The focus now is to improve the quality of life for tenants as soon as possible,” he said.
Sinn Fein councillor John Costelloe also raised the need for an urgent upgrade of Convent Street.
“At the most recent council meeting, I called for improvement works to be carried out on the facade of the housing on Convent Street which is in the heart of the city’s historic medieval quarter. While I welcome the improvements in infrastructure in the surrounding areas, it is time now for these works to continue on Convent Street.
“We have invested a lot in King John’s Castle and there have been impressive improvements to Nicholas Street. However, Convent Street has been neglected. Many tourists have commented to me on this and they wondered why no work has been done. If we are serious in attracting people to live in the city centre, we need to have our own properties in order,” he concluded.
