COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
Monday, March 10, 2014
QUESTION NO. 6
QUESTION: Councillor D. Looney
To ask the Manager to report on the status of all sites included on the Derelict Sites Register within South Dublin County over the past 12 months, including details as to the ownership, the date entered, the role of the Council in each case, details of any levies paid, details of any impending or previously-taken court cases (legal issues on information provision notwithstanding), details of any work carried out or proposed to be carried out on each site, and the Council's understanding as to future proposals for each site; and to make a statement on the matter?
REPLY:
From mid 2013 onwards, the Environment Department pursued a full review of all sites previously reported/investigated under the Derelict Sites function. Forty-six (46) sites were re-visited and assessed along with an additional twenty-four (24) sites and updates have been reported to the Area Committees during February. Of these sites -
Nine (9) were served with Notices requiring works to be undertaken to remediate sites
Seventeen (17) were served with Notices of intention to enter on the Derelict Sites Register
- Three (3) Sites have subsequently been entered on the Derelict Sites Register
- Four (4) sites have undergone remedial works to remove the dereliction arising from the issuing of the notices. These sites will not now be entered on the Register.
- Six (6) further sites are under the management of Receivers/Liquidators/ Examiners with whom we are engaging in order to have the dereliction abated.
- One (1) Site is being transferred to new owners at present. The new owners have been made aware of the condition of the site and will be pursued on closing.
- Three (3) sites, where notices that were re-issued following changes to status of sites (ownership/receivership) and no representations have been received, are to be entered on the Register in the absence of such response.
The Derelict Sites Register currently consists of three (3) sites. The details of these particular sites are as follows:
| Ref No. | Address | Date of Entry | Owner |
| DS 1506 | Former Burmah Garage, Wellington Road, Templeogue | 15th January 2014 | Curved Space Limited |
| DS 1591 | Former Keogh's Shop & Adjoining House, Main Street, Rathcoole | 28th January 2014 | Ardleigh Developments Ltd. in Liquidation |
| DS 1707 | 1 Cherryfield Avenue, Walkinstown | 28th January 2014 | Declan Piggott |
These sites will now be valued in order that the Derelict Sites Levy (3% of the market value) can be applied. Such Levies will fall due from 1st January 2015.
Further statutory notices are about to issue in relation to the Registered Sites specifying the measures required to abate the dereliction so that they can be removed from the Register. In the event that the required works are not undertaken, the Council will then consider whether to pursue enforcement action through the courts or to intervene directly through works at the sites. Funding has been provided under the 2014 Budget for such interventions and costs associated will be pursued from the owners.
In relation to one site, following the failure of the registered owners of the former Saggart Arms Hotel and adjoining lands to respond to a Dangerous Places Notice issued in October 2013, the Council entered on to the site in December 2013 and carried out works to eliminate the imminent danger that the site posed to the public. Notices have been served advising of the Council's intention to enter the site on the Derelict Site Register. Any representations received within the period allowed in relation to any of the sites where Section 8 (2) notices have been served will be considered and further appropriate enforcement action will be taken where deemed necessary.
As yet, while there has been correspondence from legal representatives of a number of owners, no legal challenges to the Council's actions have been initiated.