COMHAIRLE CHONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, February 13, 2006

QUESTION 36

QUESTION: Cllr. Mick Murphy

To ask the Manager that in Council estates the Council can decide to put gates on laneways and give everyone a key, is that also possible in estates that the Council has taken in charge?

REPLY

The closing of laneways requires the Council to extinguish the public right of way over the laneway.

Laneway closures in Council Housing estates are carried out following the extinguishment of the public right of way and the method of closure is agreed between the Housing Department and the residents.  As the title to the land in the Council estates remains with the Council, the Council still retains an element of control over situations which may arise and this enables the use of lockable gates.

The extinguishment of a right of way in a private estate also requires an extinguishment order and the method of closure is approved by the Roads Department and carried out by the residents.  In these circumstances, title to the land remains with the Developer of the estate.  The Roads Department in such circumstances stipulate that the closure be of a permanent nature on the advice of the Law Agent.

Applications in the above have been recieved from the residents of Balrothery through Housing Maintenance Section and are currently being processed.