Local people in Mallow, Co Cork, have said they are looking out for their neighbours more following the discovery of a man whose body lay undiscovered in a house on Beecher Street for over two decades.
Tim O'Sullivan was discovered under a duvet on a bed in the house by two Cork County Council staff in January when they entered the boarded-up property after the local authority received reports of vermin infestation.
At Mr O' Sullivan's inquest his family expressed concern that the tragedy may not be an isolated incident.
Local Fine Gael Councillor John Paul O'Shea said constituents and neighbours who walk through Beecher Street on a regular basis first contacted him to say the property looked very derelict and vacant.
Mr O'Shea said: "There were some entrance points for vermin through the windows and the doors.
"I brought the issue to the council at the time and reported it.
"We had notices put on that property, but obviously, the owner didn't respond and so I suppose we did proceed to board it up to make sure that it was safe from the community in terms of any vermin entering the property.
"But then we proceeded the CPO process late last year and that's when we discovered the body."
Mr O'Shea is calling for more powers to be given to local authorities around derelict housing.
He said: "At the moment, we don't have any powers as the local authority to enter a property. I would suggest that if there is being a renewal of powers that the local authorities get more powers to ensure that they can enter our property in the case of environmental concerns.
"I know we have a number of properties where the roofs are leaking, the slates are falling off, so when there is a when there is a worry and a concern there from a health and safety perspective, then local authorities should be more equipped to into those properties and make them safe."
Locals in Mallow are still coming to terms with the discovery of Mr O'Sullivan's remains.
One local woman said she walked past the derelict property on a regular basis.
"I live on the main street and I thought it was terrible because I go walking every little friend. We passed his door every night. I could hardly believe it," she said.
'Increased vigilance' among locals
Another man who has a business on Beecher Street said neighbours have been checking in on each other since Mr O'Sullivan's remains were found.
"There's definitely been increased vigilance since this happened. I have a neighbour next door here and his rubbish is still out. So somebody called in today and said, 'is he OK? Did you check in on him?'," he said.
In a statement, the Department of Housing said it is a very sad case and the department and the minister would like to express their condolences to the family of the deceased individual.
The department said: "It is a matter for local authorities to determine the most appropriate use of the legislation within their respective functional areas and members of the public can engage with their local authority in relation to addressing individual derelict sites in their local areas.
"DHLGH (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage) initiated a review of the Derelict Sites Act in November 2021 and invited local authorities to make initial submissions on potential improvements to the legislative provisions and the way they are applied.
"A focused working group of nominated staff members from a number of local authorities was subsequently established.
"It is expected that the report of the group will be finalised shortly. The recommendations contained in the report will be considered once it is received.
"The scope for the engagement of additional staff resources in local authorities to assist in the more effective enforcement and implementation of the provisions of the Act is also being explored by DHLGH in the context of an ongoing review of the staff resourcing needs of local planning authorities generally."
