Council social housing residents on Cork’s northside feel like ‘the forgotten people’

Social housing residents of a northside area made internationally famous as a backdrop for The Young Offenders say they feel like they are “the forgotten people, abandoned on the top of a mountain”.

A number of residents in Roche’s Buildings and Sutton’s Buildings, who spoke to The Echo, said that they felt ignored by City Hall and ill-served by an unreliable bus service.

Paul O’Leary, 61, has lived in Roche’s Buildings for six years and also works in the resource centre.

“We’re like the forgotten people up here, abandoned on the top of a mountain,” he said.

“A lot of problems here are housing-related, a lot of the houses are in bad repair, but apparently up here you have to die before you get a new door or a window.”

Kevin O’Leary, 64, has lived here for 13 years and he says he has spent “years” asking for a new front door.

“In the winter… it’s like having air conditioning,” he said.

Issues raised 

All of the residents who spoke with The Echo say they find it difficult to get a response from the city council on the issues they have raised.

“Trying to get in touch with the council is impossible,” claimed 62-year-old Maggie Blyth.

Sinn Féin Cork City North East candidate Christa Daley, who has met with the residents, said that numerous homes have problems with roofs, gutters, and doors.

“There seems to be a complete lack of engagement by the city council on these issues,” she said.

Paul O’Leary says the lack of a dependable bus service with a quick and simple route into town adds to the isolation felt by residents.

He adds that the thrice-daily 209 bus route brings passengers out to Silverheights before eventually returning into town.

“We have a lot of pensioners here who need to get to Blackpool for their post office,” he said. 

“That’s a taxi, €8 up and €8 down out of a pension, and then if you have a hospital appointment, that’s €20 each way.”

With an ageing population prone to illness and infirmity, walking into town is not an option for many, and residents claim that the hillside surfaces are often left covered with leaves and moss, making them dangerous and slippery.

Cork Penny Dinners calls to several residents every day, and Paul O’Leary says: “The knock at the door for the dinner will be the only contact some of those people have all day.”

Despairing

Christa Daley says many Roche’s Buildings and Sutton’s Buildings residents are despairing and feel they really have been forgotten.

“The situation is becoming intolerable, and residents are exasperated that their voices are being ignored.”

Asked for a comment, a spokesperson for Bus Éireann said bus routes and schedules are determined by the National Transport Authority.

They said their Cork services are subject to “external challenges”, including traffic congestion and driver recruitment.

A spokesperson for Cork City Council said: “The Cork City Council customer service request centre is available to all tenants to report repair requests.

“These are then addressed by the relevant housing operations staff.”