COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, October 13, 2014

QUESTION NO.3

QUESTION: Councillor M. Devine

To ask the Chief Executive for a time frame of response and action - if deemed appropriate - for members representations regarding derelict/vacant sites?

REPLY:

The Enforcement and Licensing Section endeavours to respond to all representations from the elected members within the agreed timeframe of ten working days.

All reports of dereliction or abandonment are referred to the Architectural Services Department for inspection. Enforcement action, where deemed appropriate, is taken on foot of that inspection report, as quickly as possible.

Where a site is found to be non-derelict but at risk of becoming derelict, a statutory notice, pursuant to Section 11 of the Derelict Sites Act 1990 (the Act), is served on the registered owner requiring that works specified in the Notice are carried out within a period specified by the Council, which cannot be less than one month in accordance with the Act, from the expiration of fourteen days from the date of service of the Notice.

Where a site is found to be derelict, a statutory notice, pursuant to Section 8 (2) of the Act, is served on the registered owner advising them of the Council’s intention to enter the particulars of the site on the Derelict Sites Register and allowing a reasonable period of time for the making of representations, in accordance with the Act. The Council, having considered any such representation, will have the site re-inspected and decide whether the site should be entered on the Register. Where a decision is taken to enter the particulars of a site on the Register, a statutory notice pursuant to Section 8 (7) of the Act is served on the owner, advising them of the entry. 

There can be delays in establishing ownership of a site/property, particularly over the past couple of years where numerous properties have been abandoned and loans have become dysfunctional. It can be a very protracted process where a bank has begun proceedings to repossess a property, a loan has been taken over by NAMA or banks have applied to have assets placed in receivership. In other cases, it has proven very difficult to establish the current location of the registered owner of a site/property or very difficult personal circumstances have pertained, which have to be handled very sensitively. 

A comprehensive report on derelict sites will be presented to the October Area Committee Meetings as a Headed Item.