Calls for garda updates on ‘domestic abuse’ incidents in New Ross estate

By Simon Bourke, Wexford People

The chairman of the New Ross Municipal District (NRMD) has called upon gardaí to provide updates to the council about “domestic abuse” issues in a new housing estate. Speaking at the January meeting of the NRMD, Councillor John Dwyer said it was vital the council’s housing department was kept abreast of any problems in this estate.

“Are the guards liaising with Wexford County Council when they’re called out to a domestic abuse situation in a local authority estate?” he asked housing officer Martina Donohue. “This is occurring in a relatively new estate in the district and we did ask the guards to liaise with us when they were called there so that we could look into it further.”

"I’m not aware of the guards contacting us routinely,” replied Ms Donohue. “However, if we get a complaint through our housing liaison officer they (the guards) would certainly work with us.”

“The guards are the ones on the ground,” continued Cllr Dwyer, “it would be very beneficial if our housing department knew when they were being called out to a particular series of houses in an estate.”

Meanwhile, Cllr Dwyer has questioned WCC’s policy of “punishing tenants” who are in arrears on their rent.

Debating whether the council was “fully in tune” with national guidelines, Cllr Dwyer said the department of housing had issued a very clearly defined process for dealing with tenants who found themselves in arrears.

“It’s a very enlightening read, and it certainly doesn’t talk about punishing tenants in arrears if they request repairs to their house,” he said. “That seems archaic to me and isn’t in line with national guidelines. I tried to raise this at the county meeting but the chief executive ruled me out of order even though he’s not the chairperson.”

Vowing to investigate and come back with a definitive response, Ms Donohue said WCC took a very proactive approach when it came to assisting those who had fallen behind on their rent.

“We have a own credit control section which we meet with fortnightly to go through any rent arrears case,” she said. “In my experience the credit control team does everything possible to get a tenant into an affordable or stable payment plan.”