Enniscorthy tenants living in ‘absolute nightmare’ as local council urges housing body to take responsibility for anti-social behaviour

By Simon Bourke, Wexford People

Tenants in an Enniscorthy housing estate are living in an “absolute nightmare” due to anti-social behaviour which has led them to request restraining orders from the gardaí. However, one organisation which can not intervene on their behalf is Wexford County Council (WCC).

With the estate in question being owned by an approved housing body (AHB) the local council is unable to assist the tenants in question despite claims to the contrary. Raising the issue at the monthly meeting of the Enniscorthy Municipal District (EMD), Councillor John O’Rourke said the AHB in question needed to deal with these ongoing issues.

“In WCC we have a very stringent anti-social behaviour policy, but it seems to me that the AHBs are not standing over and dealing with anti-social issues happening within their housing remit,” he said. “Members of our community who were lucky enough to get an AHB home are being told they need to speak to the council about these issues. We don’t own the houses, we nominated people off our list to go into them but we don’t own them.

"I can’t understand why certain AHBs keep pushing this onto us and saying it’s our responsibility.”

Confirming that any anti-social behaviour in an AHB property was the responsibility of the AHB in question, director of services Carolyne Godkin said this had previously been discussed with AHBs operating in Co Wexford and wondered if this was just a “one-off situation”.

“There are two or three households in one area constantly asking for a transfer, requesting restraining orders, they are living in an absolute nightmare,” continued Cllr O’Rourke. “And every time they approach the AHB they are told it’s a council issue, it’s not a council issue.”