COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF TERENURE-RATHFARNHAM AREA COMMITTEE (1)

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

MOTION NO. 2

MOTION: Councillor J. Lahart

"That the relevant department of the Council make good the damage caused to the walls of the houses no. 31-33 Ballyroan Road."

REPORT:

At the Terenure-Rathfarnham ACM on May 13th 2008, the following was reported:

" A street tree was removed from the grass margin outside 31 and 33 Ballyroan Road in 2007 by the Parks Department.  The front garden boundary walls in question contained the cracks prior to this removal.  The Parks Department, the Roads Department and the Councils’ Dangerous Buildings and Places Inspector have inspected the walls.  The walls were found to be of poor construction exhibiting signs of structural stress such as cracking and leaning.  They are not built on their own foundations but directly on top of the pedestrian footpath which is considered to be a sub-standard construction practice. 

A section of the pedestrian footpath adjacent to the location of the street tree was replaced by the Roads Department as the slab had lifted at the joint with the adjacent slab. When the footpath was excavated tree roots were found to be traversing beneath the concrete slab towards the boundary walls. The tree roots found closest to the locations of the cracks in the two garden walls were inspected but it is extremely difficult to determine with any certainty that the tree roots were the definitive cause of the cracking in the adjacent walls due to the poor construction and lack of independent foundations for the walls.  Accordingly, the repair of the boundary walls would be a matter for the property owners concerned and will require the reconstruction of the walls on independent foundations.  "

Roads Department can confirm that no damage was caused to the walls during the repair of the damaged path. Consequently it is not considered that this is a matter for the Roads Department. Notwithstanding this, representatives from Roads and Parks Departments will jointly meet with the residents to discuss the matter. The meeting has been arranged for June 3rd.