COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF CLONDALKIN AREA COMMITTEE
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
QUESTION NO. 9
QUESTION: Councillor T. Delaney
To ask the Manager why Omer House (a protected structure) is still not secured to a satisfactory standard and remains in a dangerous and neglected state despite previous correspondence, discussions and assurances?
REPLY:
With reference to previous reports and correspondences relating to Omer Lock House (Protected Structure RPS Ref. 122) details has been previously provided with regard to direct works required to safeguard the Protected Structure. The owners of the structure were requested by way of a Warning Letter to safeguard the Protected Structure under the requirements of Part IV of the Planning and Development Act. Discussions and agreements were made with the Council's Conservation Officer with regard to securing the structure. It was agreed with the District Engineer of Waterways Ireland that all window and door opes would be blocked up. Works commenced during the last week of February 2011 to block all openings and doorways to the structure however the crew from Waterways Ireland assigned to this work were having some difficulty with the blocks being broken out in the evenings once the crew had left the site.
A formal response to the Warning Letter was received from Waterways Ireland on 2nd March 2011 stating that in order to prevent any further deterioration of the structure the blocking up of opes as advised by the Council's Conservation Officer and agreed with the District Engineer will be completed. Works were completed during the first week of March 2011 and all opes were at that time secure. A further site inspection has been carried out by the Council's Conservation Officer on 12th October 2011 to ascertain the situation on site. On foot of the site inspection the Conservation Officer has contacted the District Engineer of Waterways Ireland and it has been agreed that steel plates will be placed on the main door and on the rear access point. Also a section of steel fencing will be erected along the perimeter of the rear of the site. Details of the work will be agreed with the Council's Conservation Officer prior to the works in terms of the location of fencing and how the steel sheets will be attached to the structure. It was stated by the District Engineer that works will commence after the mid term break so the work can be carried out without external interference.