Wicklow County Council Responds To Shocking Hillview Estate Primetime Investigates Report

A Prime Time Investigates programme further revealed ongoing issues such as damp, mould, leaks and rodent infestation dating back to 2008 in Hillview estate in Wicklow Town

Wicklow County Council say they are working with residents of Hillview Estate in Wicklow Town to address the issues highlighted by an RTÉ Prime Time programme.

Issues such as damp, mould, leaks and a rodent infestation dating back to 2008 were revealed in interviews with local residents.

The council has told East Coast FM that a regeneration project report was prepared in February and issued to the Department of Housing. 

In February 2025, a Hillview Regeneration Project report was prepared by Wicklow County Council outlining the remedial works that are necessary to upgrade this estate and bring it up to standard.

The report was issued to the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage setting out the remedial works required to improve the structural and maintenance issues of these homes.

The project will be subject to financial funding being available.

Wicklow County Council have outlined some of the actions that the Council has carried out or are in progress:-

 By Weekly engagement by the Housing tenant sustainment officer/Housing Maintenance and Municipal District Staff.

 Maintenance and repair of properties as required based on repair requests by Hillview tenants.

 Roof repairs to homes.

 Waterproofing works currently ongoing to duplex unit balconies.

 New ventilation system to ground floor units as part of the above works.

 Major clean-up projects have taken place over the years, with the latest major clean up in late 2024. Minor cleaning of areas within the estate took place in April 2025.

 Damaged fencing along the entire estate road was removed for both an appearance and a health and safety point of view. Boulders were replaced to stop illegal parking in the area, with the area cleaned thoroughly and the grass cut.

 New road markings were installed in the estate to improve road safety.

 WCC is continuously trying to address illegal parking in the Hillview estate in conjunction with An Garda Siochana.

 Efforts to establish an estate resident committee have been difficult and will continue to be prioritised.

 Any properties vacated are now shuttered on vacation. WCC has experienced quite a considerable amount of damage to properties that were vacated within the estate over the years.

 Works to the Community Centre are almost complete after it was extensively damaged through anti-social behaviour. Additional security fencing has been provided to deter further anti-social behaviour.

 WCC are unaware of any other complaints about vermin within the estate to date. Wicklow County Council will review this complaint as a matter of urgency and liaise with the HSE Pest Control unit.