Residents criticise council over infestation of rats

A GROUP of residents in Dún Laoghaire, Co Dublin, who claim they are plagued by a rat infestation in a lane behind their homes have criticised the local council and health authorities for failing to resolve the problem.

Residents of Desmond Avenue, which is close to the town centre, report daily sightings of rats in groups of up to five and say they are using bricks or brushes to kill several rodents a week.

Carol Shortt, who lives on Desmond Avenue, says she alerted Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown Council to the problem a month ago. While the council notified the HSE pest control unit which has laid three traps and checked them at regular intervals, Ms Shortt said the problem had not abated.

Avenue resident Jay Tormey said the rats are a particular problem in warm weather. “I’ve killed four rats myself this week with a shovel. I’ve got a private contractor to put in traps now. What the council is doing isn’t working.”

Lisa Davis, who lives on the avenue with her three children, said: “I’ve lived here for 12 years and it’s never been this bad. I’ve had to chase rats with a shovel. I can’t let the kids out, I’m afraid of the disease. I put bleach out every night to keep the rats away from the door.” She says she had to keep her doors closed, even in warm weather.

The residents share access to the laneway with residents of Tivoli Terrace East. Dolores Fox, whose parents are in their 80s and live on the terrace, says they regularly see rats climbing along the wall behind their home. She says the couple, who have an outside toilet, are afraid to go out.

Ms Fox said she contacted Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown Council last week and was referred to the HSE on Corrig Avenue, where she says a staff member told her to phone Rentokil. A spokeswoman for the HSE said that the staff member was incorrect, “we deal with pest control ourselves”.

Residents believe the rats are coming from a drain in the lane, on which they say the council carried out some repairs a number of years ago.

A spokeswoman for the HSE has said: “The pest control unit is doing everything in their power to eliminate the rodents. Matters relating to drains, however, are the responsibility of the council, not the HSE.”

A spokeswoman for Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown Council said: “We were contacted by tenants at two addresses on Desmond Avenue, and this was immediately referred to the HSE pest control unit. Our information is that the measures taken have been successful. We are monitoring the situation, and if the rat problem reoccurs, the council urges tenants to contact our housing maintenance unit directly.”

People Before Profit councillor Richard Boyd Barrett, who has also contacted the council about the issue, said: “Tenants should not have to put up with these intolerable conditions. The council and the HSE have an obligation to sort this problem out immediately.”