COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF TALLAGHT AREA COMMITTEE 1

Monday, February 18, 2008

QUESTION NO. 11

QUESTION: Councillor C. King

To ask the Manager to report in detail the reasons for the significant delay in the allocation of the Voluntary homes in the McUlluim Estate in Fortunestown, understanding clearly that Housing Allocations are not responsible for the delay.

REPLY:

The Council was requested by Oaklee Housing Trust Limited to arrange for additoinal works not provided for in the original construction contract to be carried out in order to increase the security of the voluntary units and improve the access for residents.  These works were undertaken as a variation to the contract by the builder after the units were constructed and the works were completed shortly before Christmas 2007.

The layout of the voluntary units in relation to the part of the development which will remain in Council ownership has proved somewhat problematic from a legal viewpoint insofar as it impacts on the legal transfer of the units to Oaklee.  The Council is endeavouring to resolve these difficulties as quickly as possible and did offer to provide for the use of the units by Oaklee under a Licence Agreement pending resolution of the matter but this proposal was not acceptable to Oaklee.  A meeting has been requested with Oaklee to identify a method of resolution.

The Council is aware that some prospective tenants were advised by Oaklee of likely dates when they could take up residence in their allocated dwellings.  This information had not been provided to Oaklee by the Council and the Council has asked Oaklee to desist from providing such information until such time as the Council is in a position to finalise the legal transfer of the units to Oaklee.