COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF LUCAN AREA COMMITTEE
Tuesday, April 23, 2019
MOTION NO. 7
MOTION: Councillor D. O'Brien
Cathaoirleachs Business
That this Area Committee calls on the Chief Executive to work with the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht Josepha Madigan and any other funding bodies that are available to support this Council to purchases the old school house in Lucan Village.
REPORT:
The "Old School House" and site in Lucan village has recently been advertised for sale, it is a listed building for the purposes of the Planning & Development Acts. There are a number of factors to consider including the condition of the building and site, the absence of space for car parking, its close proximity to a busy road junction and compromised access, this means the development potential is very limited and the potential costs significant.
Potential costs involved and possible use have been given some consideration:
- The cost of purchase – (asking price is €450,000)
- Refurbishment costs in the context of the listed nature of the building – (difficult to estimate without full examination but given the need to refurbish the buildings - roof, services, insulation, sanitary, provision of disabled access etc minimum €250,000).
- A conservation architects report would be required prior to any works at c €15,000.
- Utilisation of building for community purposes – limited space for meeting room / event space, provision of disabled access etc.
- Previous planning SD04A/0349 required the elimination of the three proposed parking place to the front curtilage for road safety issues
Accordingly, having examined the proposal again it is considered that the cost of acquisition and works required to bring the "schoolmasters house" to a standard suitable for community and or cultural use would be prohibitive taking into account the limited development/use options which the site presents and the cost associated with same.