COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF TALLAGHT AREA COMMITTEE

Thursday, September 15, 2016

QUESTION NO.

QUESTION: Councillor C. O'Connor

"To ask the Chief Executive to outline action he is taking to deal with the question of boarded up vacant Council houses within the Tallaght area; will he confirm the number of such houses which received this attention in this calendar year and will he also state what is the average time it is currently taking to return these houses to the housing stock for allocation?"

REPLY:

Local authority vacant dwellings are at heightened risk from vandalism, arson and anti-social activity.  South Dublin County Council take every possible step to minimise any potential damage to vacant properties, hence the Council will secure any vulnerable properties while works are being carried out.   There are currently 44 vacant dwellings all at various stages of repair (22 South and 22 North of Naas Road).  Of these, 11 dwellings North of the Naas Road have sitex and 16 South of the Naas Road have sitex to protect the dwellings.  While every effort is made to secure vacant council dwellings against arson and/or attacks of vandalism,  such houses are frequently targeted by anti-social elements where considerable damage can be caused necessitating additional pre-let repair works which serves to delay the period within which a house can be rendered fit for re-allocation.   

119 properties have been re-let from January to September 2016 with the average turn-around time of 9 weeks.   In the case of our fire damaged and/or extensively vandalised houses, it can take considerably longer to effect the pre-let repairs.  There are currently 3 dwellings that are extensively fire damaged, it is hoped to begin works on these as soon as possible.