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Irish Examiner
a day ago
- Business
- Irish Examiner
Residential Tenancies Board's new ICT system €5.2m over budget
A new ICT system for the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) ran €5.2m over budget and was delivered 29 months late, without all planned functions. The online tenancy registration system was initially budgeted at €3.3m, and came into use in November 2021, but it reached an overall cost of €8.5m, bringing it over budget by 157%. After the RTB360 system went live, the RTB noted in its annual report that the cost had reached €7.3m but stated that "no further costs are expected for this phase". However, the commencement of annual tenancy registration in April 2022 saw "significant performance failures" arise for users and further development was required through 2023, with the operation issues resolved towards the end of the year. Initially, the associated costs for the further development work was estimated at just over €1.1m. Temporary pause As a result of these system failures, a temporary pause in the automatic charging of late fees was introduced in November 2022 and remained in place until March 1, 2024. During 2023, the RTB refunded €1.67m in late fees, while the data on fees refunded in 2024 has not been published. In the 2023 annual report, it is also noted that the original scope for the system included system requirements for handling disputes and enforcement, which were not included. The RTB has since "adopted a new approach" to deliver a dispute-resolution system using the ServiceNow platform, with a pilot beginning testing last month. The first phase of this new system will be delivered within one year and has cost less than €1m to date, according to an RTB spokesperson. In light of the drastic cost overrun and delay in delivery, the RTB board commissioned an independent external review of the RTB360 project. A spokesperson told the Irish Examiner that it had "received legal advice that currently prevents us from sharing this report" but said recommendations from the review have been implemented. Rory Hearne questioned whether State agencies require more support for ICT projects. Picture: PA Social Democrats TD Rory Hearne submitted a parliamentary question to housing minister James Browne regarding RTB360 but was told the minister has "no official responsibility to Dáil Éireann for this matter". As the RTB is a State body, Mr Hearne said Mr Browne should be taking responsibility to respond, just as other ministers must when it comes to State agencies being held accountable. The issues raised by RTB360 and other ICT projects which have resulted in significant overspend beg the question as to whether State agencies require more support and resources when such projects are being undertaken, Mr Hearne added. Read More 50th anniversary of Seamus Heaney's landmark collection on Troubles to be marked
Sunday World
4 days ago
- Business
- Sunday World
Election candidate owes thousands to young mum he charged extra to rent his property
Mother of three Kirsty Fitzsimons says she was told to fork out extra for a 'top-up' to the agreed rent costs from Dermot McGuckin. Names to be blurred out on Fitzsimons rent extorsion talking to Alan Sherry in Mullingar Gary Ashe,21/5/2025 Dermot McGuckin says the RTB hearing went ahead without his knowledge An election candidate and landlord who called for more social and affordable housing for struggling families has refused to pay thousands he owes to a young mother after the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) found he had illegally withheld her deposit. Dermot (Diarmuid) McGuckin (58), who is originally from Dublin but living in Fossa, Co Kerry, was ordered by the RTB to pay €3,280 to Kirsty Fitzsimons for illegally withholding her deposit for a property he rents out in Tallaght, Dublin. As well as running as an Independent candidate in the local elections in Killarney, McGuckin has set up firms in diverse industries, including home care for the elderly, tourism, cleaning services and communications. He is also a taxi driver and was elected chair of the Irish Taxi Federation in Killarney. McGuckin further describes himself as a public relations consultant, and a number of years ago set up The Bellarose Foundation, which he said provided cleaning and care services to women going through chemotherapy. Kirsty Fitzsimons with documentation for the RTB He also organised a Great Santa Cycle in Killarney to raise funds for what he called the Bellarose Youth Development Fund. As well as not returning his tenant's deposit, McGuckin was also getting Kirsty to secretly pay an additional €830 per month on top of the €1,950 lease agreement. Kirsty said: 'When we contacted him about renting it, he said, 'I have someone else who is highly interested and it is between you and them. They have offered x, y and z above the lease, what can you offer'? 'I have never seen anything like it – and I've been renting since 2017,' she said. Kirsty said she felt like she had no option but to pay the extra to secure the rental property which is in Forest Lawns in Kingswood. News in 90 Seconds - May 30th 'I had three children and was desperate for a house for the kids and there was no alternative. He had €1,950 down as the lease agreement but was actually charging €2,780. 'When I told the HAP [Housing Assistance Payment scheme] about this they said to stop paying him extra rent. After that, he was contacting me at all times about the top-up. He was actually the most difficult landlord I ever dealt with in my life.' When McGuckin ran in the local elections in Kerry he claimed one of his main concerns was 'more social and affordable housing' for struggling families. Kirsty said her experience with him was 'completely different'. Kirsty Fitzsimons tells our reporter her story 'He said he was for families and all that. If he was, he wouldn't be charging outrageous amounts of rent for young families. I think it was ridiculous. All he cared about was the money. 'I'm waiting for the deposit nearly two years. I think he thought I'm young so he'd be able to take advantage.' In the end, Kirsty only stayed in the house for six months before leaving, but when she did leave in July 2023, McGuckin refused to give her the €2,780 security deposit back. McGuckin has owed the money to the young mother-of-three for almost two years but had point blank refused to give it back, didn't bother turning up to the RTB hearing and has not responded to Ms Fitzsimons' calls and messages since. Things were even more stressful for Kirsty after she received bad health news recently. 'I was going through all this with the RTB and him, and then I found out I had a BRCA1 gene for breast and ovarian cancer. I have to get a double mastectomy and an ovariectomy.' The RTB ordered McGuckin to pay the €2,780 deposit and an additional €500 in compensation. However, when contacted by the Sunday World, McGuckin claimed that he wasn't even aware there had been an RTB case against him. 'To have a court case [RTB hearing] without me being there is very f**king harsh. But I don't know, I'd have to see what notes I have on it and bring them up. 'To go ahead and have a hearing without me having any input whatsoever, surely there's a law against that?' Kirsty is now facing the prospect of surgery A spokesperson for the RTB confirmed there is indeed a law against that and rubbished McGuckin's claims that they would schedule the hearing without informing all parties. 'By law, we must give notice of a dispute hearing. We will only schedule a case for a hearing when we have contact details for all parties,' they said. The spokesperson said the RTB contacts all parties to confirm contact details before sending them hearing notices. As well as claiming he was unaware of the RTB case, McGuckin tried to justify not giving back the deposit and made a series of claims which Kirsty said were outright lies. 'There was a lot of reasons why she didn't get it back at the time,' McGuckin claimed. Asked what they were, he said: 'Damage to the property and there was some stuff gone from the property that was there when she moved in.' Asked for examples of either damage or missing items, he couldn't provide even a single one. 'Ah now, I have a list there I'd have to go through. As I said, this is the first I've heard about this,' he said. Kirsty said McGuckin was lying about damage to the property and any missing items. 'It's complete and utter nonsense. I can't believe he said there were things missing. I've never been accused of stealing before. He can't tell you what was missing because there was nothing missing.' She said every other landlord she has dealt with, including estate agents, have always given her glowing references. McGuckin also claimed he hadn't heard from Kirsty since she left in July 2023. 'I'm at a loss of what to tell you. I haven't heard from her since she left. I think once maybe she got in contact after she left.' However, Kirsty said that was another lie and she has contacted him numerous times since by phone and by email, but he has ignored all communication. Asked if he was willing to give her back her deposit now, McGuckin said: 'I'd have to look in to that. I know it was withheld for a reason and probably multiple reasons, I wouldn't be holding onto anything you know... if everything was OK, there'd be no issue.' Kristy said she was insulted that McGuckin would try to say she was at fault for not getting her deposit back. 'I wouldn't have gone to the RTB if what he was saying was true and wouldn't be doing an interview about it. He didn't inspect the house before we moved in. He got the previous tenant to leave a key under the mat. He also didn't inspect it when we moved out. He had no bill for any supposed damage he claimed was caused, he can't name a single thing missing,' she said. When the Sunday World asked McGuckin why he was looking for an additional €830 in payments on top of the €1,950 lease, he initially said: 'Em, no, whatever was on the lease agreement would have been what was charged.' However, when we pointed out Kirsty had messages showing he was in fact demanding €2,780, he said: 'I can't remember off-hand. I mean you're after getting me completely off hand on this one.' Landlords can legitimately ask for payments on top of HAP payments if the HAP payments don't meet the rent amount, but cannot ever ask for payments on top of what is stated on the lease. The property was also in a rent pressure zone with strict limits on how much rent could be increased by from one year to the next.
New Straits Times
6 days ago
- Politics
- New Straits Times
RM450mil flood mitigation project in Melaka gets green light
ALOR GAJAH: The federal government has approved RM450 million in funding for the Sungai Baru Flood Mitigation Plan (RTB) in Masjid Tanah, aimed at addressing recurring floods in the area. Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh said the project will span a 15km stretch from Sungai Durian Daun to the mouth of Sungai Kuala Baru, and will include the construction of four flood retention ponds in Kampung Londang, Kampung Jeram, Kampung Lubuk Redan and Taman Gamelan. "This is a long-term initiative to tackle the flood problems affecting Masjid Tanah," he told reporters after visiting a Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) pump house as part of the Wakil Rakyat Untuk Rakyat (WRUR) engagement programme for the Lendu constituency at Taman Masjid Tanah Ria. Also present were State Secretary Datuk Azhar Arshad, State Science, Technology, Innovation and Digital Communications Committee chairman Datuk Fairul Nizam Roslan and Lendu assemblyman Datuk Seri Sulaiman Md Ali. For short-term flood prevention, Ab Rauf said the DID is implementing RM3.3 million worth of state-funded projects, including the installation of pumps, construction of pump houses and compact substations, and river maintenance works. Two existing flood retention ponds, Durian Daun and Solok Duku, are also undergoing rehabilitation at a combined cost of RM1.85 million, with completion expected by December. On a separate matter, Ab Rauf urged the state's stage bus operator to take greater responsibility for safety standards, calling for improved driver training following a series of fatal public transport accidents. He said several incidents were linked to negligent driving, resulting in loss of life. – Bernama
The Sun
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Sun
RM450 mln flood mitigation project in Melaka gets green light
ALOR GAJAH: The federal government has approved RM450 million in funding for the Sungai Baru Flood Mitigation Plan (RTB) in Masjid Tanah, aimed at addressing recurring floods in the area. Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh said the project will span a 15-kilometre stretch from Sungai Durian Daun to the mouth of Sungai Kuala Baru, and will include the construction of four flood retention ponds in Kampung Londang, Kampung Jeram, Kampung Lubuk Redan and Taman Gamelan. 'This is a long-term initiative to tackle the flood problems affecting Masjid Tanah,' he told reporters after visiting a Department of Irrigation and Drainage (JPS) pump house as part of the Wakil Rakyat Untuk Rakyat (WRUR) engagement programme for the Lendu constituency at Taman Masjid Tanah Ria. Also present were State Secretary Datuk Azhar Arshad, State Science, Technology, Innovation and Digital Communications Committee chairman Datuk Fairul Nizam Roslan and Lendu assemblyman Datuk Seri Sulaiman Md Ali. For short-term flood prevention, Ab Rauf said the DID is implementing RM3.3 million worth of state-funded projects, including the installation of pumps, construction of pump houses and compact substations, and river maintenance works. Two existing flood retention ponds, Durian Daun and Solok Duku, are also undergoing rehabilitation at a combined cost of RM1.85 million, with completion expected by December. Separately, Ab Rauf urged the state's stage bus operator to take greater responsibility for safety standards, calling for improved driver training following a series of fatal public transport accidents. He noted that several incidents were linked to negligent driving, resulting in loss of life.
Barnama
6 days ago
- Politics
- Barnama
RM450 Mln Flood Mitigation Project In Melaka Gets Green Light
ALOR GAJAH, May 28 (Bernama) -- The federal government has approved RM450 million in funding for the Sungai Baru Flood Mitigation Plan (RTB) in Masjid Tanah, aimed at addressing recurring floods in the area. Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh said the project will span a 15-kilometre stretch from Sungai Durian Daun to the mouth of Sungai Kuala Baru, and will include the construction of four flood retention ponds in Kampung Londang, Kampung Jeram, Kampung Lubuk Redan and Taman Gamelan. 'This is a long-term initiative to tackle the flood problems affecting Masjid Tanah,' he told reporters after visiting a Department of Irrigation and Drainage (JPS) pump house as part of the Wakil Rakyat Untuk Rakyat (WRUR) engagement programme for the Lendu constituency at Taman Masjid Tanah Ria.
