COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

south dublin county council crest

MEETING OF LUCAN AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

QUESTION NO. 5

QUESTION: Councillor E. Tuffy

"To ask the Manager if he will request the Planning Department/Building Control Unit if it was satisfied in approving the taking-in-charge of Colthurst/Huntingdon Green Estate, Lucan, that rat blockers had been properly installed by the developer in Colthurst Rise, and if he will make a statement on the matter, noting that some residents of Colthurst Rise have reported rat infestation problems in or near their houses?"

REPLY:

From a road maintenance, public lighting and drainage point of view the respective departments have reported significant increase in maintenance activities on this site above other schemes of a similar age throughout the County.

As you are aware Takin In Charge only applies to publicly accessible infrastructure and unfortunately does not extend to the assessment of private drains and related issues within the curtilage of a dwelling. We also spoke to the HSE and their report follows. If the problems with Rats are persisting, the residents are advised to contact their local HSE branch.

We attach a summary of a rat infestation linked to poorly laid private drainage runs at Colthurst Close Summer 2013 received from our colleagues in the Environment section of the HSE..

Our experience of the private drainage runs servicing Colthurst Court was that there were numerous faulty junctions, where the pipes did not run into the junction smoothly but stopped short of the junction, many of the drainage pipes were damaged and it was the exception to find a fully intact drainage inspection chamber.

 We presume 'rat blockers' mean rodding eyes? We have no experience re the presence or absence of rodding eyes. This estate is built for some considerable time and in my experience, it is rare for rodding eyes to be replaced by residents once they have rodded the drain. Even if provided by the developer, they could be missing now.

 The HSE treated Colthurst Close for multiple properties last Summer but I have no record of rodent complaints from Colthurst Rise but we are investigating a complaint of refuse dumping at 18 Colthurst Risel.