Councillors ‘deeply disturbed’ by conditions at Wicklow social housing estate
The Wicklow PeopleA small group of residents from the Hillview Estate gathered outside the Town Hall in Wicklow town on Monday afternoon, as the six district councillors gathered for their monthly meeting.
The peaceful protest comes following the broadcast of an RTÉ Prime Time investigation, which heard from residents living in the estate calling for Wicklow County Council to address a litany of major issues, including mould, leaks, damp and a rodent infestation.
Hillview Estate opened two years behind schedule in 2006, providing accommodation for 100 adults and 75 children. The development consists of a mix of units including terraced houses, duplex apartments, and semi-detached houses.
However, it has been plagued with these persistent problems ever since. The estate has also experienced the illegal parking of caravans, illegal dumping and anti-social behaviour.
Raising the issue during the meeting, Cllr John Snell called for the four Wicklow TDs, the six local elected representatives in the district and county council staff to meet to find viable solutions to the issues at hand.
“What we all saw in the report was deeply disturbing. Residents have been raising concerns for years, and nothing has been done. It’s a disgrace.”
“There are vacant homes in the area that are boarded up with metal on the doors and windows, but many are still accessible. Children could gain access into them, they’re dangerous. Not only that, but they have also become dumping grounds, leading to rat infestations on many accounts.”
“The council has a moral and legal responsibility to maintain these properties and ensure they’re safe for residents to live in. That is clearly not happening. These homes are not fit for purpose.” he added.
All elected members stressed the importance for the council to respond in a timely manner with Cllr Danny Alvey saying it was important that the residents don’t feel like they’re being left behind.
“We must ensure that the council provides social housing that meets the required standards and prevent this from happening in the future.”
Following the broadcast of the programme on July 17, Wicklow County Council issued a lengthy statement highlighting how they intend to respond. District administrator Georgina Franey outlined the details of the statement to the elected members, and indicated a report was prepared by the county council in February of this year. It details the remedial works that are necessary to upgrade the estate and bring it up to standard.
The report has been issued to the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage who are engaging with senior housing staff with full consideration to be given to the report over the coming weeks. The full project will be subject to ongoing financial funding being made available.
Since the beginning of 2024, over 150 remedial works have taken place in the estate. These include waterproofing works on duplex unit balconies and a new ventilation system to ground floor units.
Major clean-up projects have also taken place, with the latest being completed in late 2024. Minor cleaning of areas within the estate took place in April 2025, while damaged fencing along the entire estate road was removed for health and safety reasons.
New road markings were also installed in the estate to improve road safety. Works to the community centre are near completion after it suffered extensive damage through anti-social behaviour.
Additional security fencing has been provided to deter any further attacks.
Wicklow County Council are unaware of any other complaints about vermin within the estate to date but have agreed to review the complaint and liaise with the HSE Pest Control unit on their findings.
Ms Franey said the council “continuously manage and maintain the Hillview estate with the maintenance budget provided and take all maintenance and repair requests seriously.”
“We continue to work with the local community, councillors, An Garda Siochana, and other agencies to try and resolve the issues in this estate.”
“It is a priority of Wicklow County Council to ensure that the regeneration project for Hillview is progressed as a matter of urgency with the support of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.” she added.
Two of the four Wicklow TDs have written to council staff seeking a meeting to discuss the matter.
Social Democrats Deputy Jennifer Whitmore said an urgent intervention is needed.
“We need a full action plan for this estate. That includes sending a structural engineer to assess the safety of these buildings. Residents deserve somewhere safe to live.”
“This is not just about bricks and mortar. It’s about people’s health, safety, and dignity.”
Meanwhile Sinn Féin TD John Brady described the situation as “beyond unacceptable.” and called for a clear timeline on when the works will be finished.
“As far back as 2013 I helped to secure funding for an audit of the housing in this estate, but since then the conditions have only deteriorated.”
“These families must have the homes sorted without delay or else suitable accommodation found. The situation for these families must be resolved immediately.” he added.
Wicklow County Council have acknowledged a considerable amount of damage has been caused to properties that were vacated within the estate over the years.
Senior staff are reported to be working with the tenants of the properties highlighted in the programme on a regular basis to address any concerns.