COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF TERENURE/RATHFARNHAM AREA COMMITTEE (2)

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

QUESTION NO. 17

QUESTION: Councillor J. Lahart

"To ask the Manager to take any necessary steps to secure the dangerous boundary dividng the Laurels Apartments in Rathfarnham Village from the road into Castlecourt Apartments Rathfarnham Village as there is a considerable drop from one side to the other adjacent to a planted strip of land?"

REPLY:

Before the entrance to the Castlecourt apartment development, there is a planted area to the left which partly conceals an area of approximately 9 metres by 5 metres. Beyond this area there is an old stone boundary wall which separates the Castlecourt apartment development from the Laurels apartment development.

On the Castlecourt side of the boundary, the stone wall is approximately 500mm high. On the Laurels side, the wall is approximately 5.5. metres high. Therefore, there is a difference in ground level of approximately five metres at this location.

The higher level area, on the Castlecourt side, appears to be used as a gathering place by juveniles; litter such as soft drink cans, beer cans, food wrappings and containers are littered in the open space.

There is insufficient edge protection to this space; beyond the 500mm high wall on the Castlecourt side of the boundary, there is a 5 metre drop. The boundary appears to separate open spaces which in turn separate these two apartment developments.

It would appear that these open spaces are in private ownership, and the Council is in the process of establishing details of ownership. If either of the open spaces is in public ownership, the Council will have to secure the boundary. However, if the spaces are in private ownership, the Council will contact all relevant parties (owners, occupiers, property management companies) to let them know that the responsibility for the proper maintenance and repair of the boundaries and open spaces rests with the registered owners.