Maynooth Study: Poor Insulation And Draughty Homes Leaving Families Sick In Some Ageing Council Estates

Friday, 5 December 2025 10:18

By Martin Osborne - Head Of News

The Just Housing project at Maynooth worked with the Community Action Tenants Union to survey long-established local-authority homes - focusing in this case on a 1950s estate in south Dublin as an example of wider problems in ageing council stock.

New research from Maynooth University's 'Just Housing' project is highlighting the pressures facing older council housing - with a survey of long-standing homes showing severe heat loss, damp and rising health concerns among tenants.

The Maynooth project worked with the Community Action Tenants Union to survey long-established local-authority homes - focusing in the latest case on a 1950s estate in south Dublin as an example of wider problems in ageing council stock.

Eighty-eight per cent of residents reported at least one major issue, most commonly homes that simply cannot hold heat because of poor insulation, draughty windows or outdated heating systems.

Almost half said this leads to condensation, dampness and persistent mould, and more than half reported health impacts, including repeated chest infections, asthma and even pneumonia.

Some households said they spend €80 to €100 a week on heating, yet their homes become cold again as soon as the heating switches off.

Others told researchers that despite constant cleaning and repainting, mould keeps returning.

The study says these conditions stem from the era in which the houses were built, noting that solid-block construction means external insulation is the only viable upgrade.

More than half of respondents believe their local authority is unwilling to undertake the major works needed, such as retrofitting, window replacements and heating upgrades.

The project is calling for increased Government funding so councils can bring older estates up to modern standards.

It says extra government funding for local authority retrofits needs to be allocated to prioritise houses with the worst energy ratings and conditions.