Council responds to gas boiler service concerns

DUBLIN City Council has responded to local residents’ concerns over a delay in servicing their gas boilers.

Cllr Larry O’Toole (SF) said several council tenants in the Darndale Belcamp area contacted him with claims that the boilers were not serviced for over two years.

“Tenants are charged

?¬150 per annum for the service,

? stated Cllr O’Toole.

“But they are primarily concerned about the safety aspect of the delay in servicing of the boilers.

?

Cllr O’Toole raised the issue at a recent Dublin City Council area meeting. At the meeting, a council official informed him that there was no set servicing interval for the gas boilers, although most manufacturers recommend a service every 12 months.

“The Housing Maintenance Heating Section aims to have the 22,500 boilers in city council homes serviced every 12 months, or failing that, once in every calendar year,

? the official said.

“There was a technical issue during 2012 which resulted in a backlog in the scheduled boiler services.

?

The official said Dublin City Council had commenced a new schedule of boiler servicing which took effect from March 1.

“The servicing of gas central heating boilers is currently scheduled on a month-by-month basis until such time as the new tender is awarded,

? he added.

“The gas boiler maintenance charge includes the boiler service, emergency call-outs (24 to 48 hours), maintenance and repairs, spare parts cost and installation and boiler replacement, if required.

?

A spokeswoman for Dublin City Council’s press office said it had nothing further to add to the response already given to Cllr O’Toole at the area meeting.