COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

South Dublin County Council Crest

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, April 11, 2016

QUESTION NO.1

QUESTION: Councillor M. Duff

Would the Chief Executive make a report to this Council detailing if regular fire safety inspections are carried out in apartment blocks, where there are Council tenants or AHB tenants residing, to ensure that no fire hazards exist, to check emergency lighting and to ensure that all tenants and management of AHB are observing the basic fire safety rules, especially in regard to storing furniture or other flammable materials in common areas or under stairwells

REPLY:

The Council requires certification from Architects/engineers on all properties it purchases prior to completing purchase or accept units that are constructed for the Council. These certificates cover all aspects of the unit from construction to fire safety.

Following purchase or possession of the housing units issues arising around structure, maintenance and or safety are dealt with by our maintenance staff supported by technical advice from Architects and or consultants as required.

All Council properties are included on a computer system that tracks maintenance requests and or complaints in relation to the structure and or safety of the units. All complaints are responded to and those which relate to safety are prioritised and inspected. To date this system has operated very successfully

Both the Council and the relevant Approved Housing Bodies carry out checks on a quarterly basis of the fire safety alarms and lighting in communal areas and logged.

The storage of material in communal areas is forbidden and I am informed by AHBs that they remove it when discovered. We have recently erected signs in our own communal areas reminding our tenants of the prohibition on storing such material there.

In light of the recent fire in one of the communal areas of an AHB apartment block the Council will be discussing safety checks with them further and also considering our own processes in this regard.