COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF TALLAGHT AREA COMMITTEE 1

Monday, September 17, 2007

QUESTION NO. 11

QUESTION: Councillor J. Hannon

"To ask the Manager to confirm the length of time that the ECO house, Kiltipper, Tallaght has been unoccupied, the cost of security for same, and when will the house be occupied and by whom?"

REPLY:

The Eco-house(5 Bed) was constructed in Deerparkon lands owned by South Dublin County Council and was completed in March 2006. The house was to bedonated to the Christina Noble Children's Foiundation (CNCF). As part of the agreement CNCF were to apply for status as an approved housing body to address start-up and ongoing funding needs. This application was never made despite repeated requests to the Foundation by the Council.

In May 2007 the Eco-house was vandalised whereby doors and windows were damaged. The Council acted to secure the property and in this regard has incurred costs in the region of €32,000 to the end of August 2007. Following several meetings an agreement has been reached with CNCF to make a planning application to the Council for a change of use of the Eco-house from residential to a creche / childcare facility to be managed by an approved voluntary body. The planning application is due to be lodged in the immediate future. If successful it will be used by CNCF and An Cosán for childcare and childcare training. An Cosán have made application for funding to undertake this development.

In the meantime it is proposed to install shutters on the inside of the house in order to safeguard it pending the take over by the CNCF/An Cosán.