Kamilla Doyle, who bought a socially affordable house in Hillbrook Woods, Blanchardstown, Dublin, in 2003, said she and her neighbours in the 80-house estate had been without heat and, frequently, hot water since they moved in.

"I had to call the ambulance myself one night after I became dizzy from leaking fumes. A family up the road also brought their young daughter to hospital after she became very sick from the fumes, " she said. Doyle subsequently had the gas supply cut off because the gas board would not give it clearance.

Doyle said that when she and other residents sought separate legal representation, Fingal Council immediately cut off communication, saying the matter was now in legal process. "All we were told was that we would have to pay almost 1,500 to replace the fires and put in proper ventilation ourselves, " she said.

Hillbrook was built by developers Kimpton Vale to meet its social and affordable housing obligations as part of a development of luxury apartments in Castleknock. Kimpton Vale this weekend said it had no one available to comment on the Hillbrook complaints.

Labour finance spokeswoman and local TD Joan Burton said shoddy building practices were now plaguing the increasing number of housing estates in west Dublin. "I have bulging files of complaints from residents about damp, leaks, faulty wiring, contaminated water supplies and poor ventilation, and the builders and the council are denying any responsibility, " she said.