Fianna Fáil Cllr. Eamon Quinlann has called for consistency in regard to the use of Ring doorbells and CCTV on council houses.
Speaking on Thursday last, at the October Plenary meeting of Waterford City and County Council, Cllr. Quinlan said that some of his constituents had expressed concern after being told that they were not permitted to use ring doorbells on their council houses.
The councillor explained that this situation is ‘very dissatisfactory’ for older people in particular, who rely on ring doorbells and CCTV to see who is at their door and to discourage anti-social behaviour.
The councillor claimed that this issue stemmed from a de facto policy being practiced by some Approved Housing Bodies. For while the council themselves allow the use of ring doorbells, some Approved Housing Bodies, who also supply council housing, were issuing blanket no’s in relation to the issue.
While the Approved Housing Body disagreed with this assessment, the councillor claims to have seen email correspondence which amount to a practice of banning ring door bells outright.
In closing remarks Cllr. Quinlan called for consistency, asking that the same policies be applied regardless of whether a house comes directly from the Council or an Approved Housing Body.
AARON KENT Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme
