COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF TALLAGHT AREA COMMITTEE 1

Monday, November 19, 2007

MOTION NO 7.

MOTION: Councillor C. Jones

This Committee calls for an explanation as to why the promised works for Killinniny Tower have not progressed.

REPORT:

A Conservation Architect and a Conservation Engineer were engaged by the Council to assess the Kilininny Tower site and advise on the most appropriate methodology for undertaking the proposed restoration process. The reports and recommendations of both consultants have been reviewed to determine how best to advance the process. It has emerged that the restoration of the Killininny Tower is a complex undertaking requiring specialist expertise. This factor has particularly given rise to the delay in advancing the restoration project. It is also envisaged that the project will involve considerable cost for which substantial funding will need to be identified.

The nature of the recommended restoration works requires in the first instance experience in the stabilisation of unstable structures as well as skills in conservation construction and restoration techniques in order to achieve an authentic restoration of the structure. In this context, the consultant Conservation Architect, who is experienced in dealing with conservation projects of this complex nature, has been requested by the Parks & Landscape Services Department to prepare a detailed tender specification and documentation to enable the Council to seek by public tender a contractor with the necessary skills and expertise to undertake the project. It is planned to initiate the tendering process as soon as possible, the outcome of which will be reported back to a future meeting of the Tallaght Area Committee.

With regard to works undertaken on the Killininny Tower site in the current year, a recent assessment of the condition of the site by the Dangerous Buildings section of the Council identified the structure as unsafe and in need of urgent remedial action. Signs had previously been placed around the site indicating that it is dangerous and it has been surrounded by a steel palisade fence for a number of years. In the interest of public safety and by agreement with the Council's Conservation Officer the Parks & Landscape Services Department arranged on October 9th last for the removal of an unstable section of the tower which was identified as being particularly unsafe and liable to collapse. Only the unstable section of the tower was removed and the materials will be salvaged for the proposed rebuilding of the tower as part of the overall planned conservation works.

Arrangements are also being made to install new security fencing around the boundary of the site in the interest of public safety and to create a safe work zone for the proposed future restoration work. This new fencing will be positioned outside and set back from the current fence line. It is planned to have the new fencing installed within a matter of weeks.