COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF CLONDALKIN AREA COMMITTEE

Wednesday, September 21, 2022

QUESTION NO.11

QUESTION: Councillor William Joseph Carey

To ask the Chief Executive if he can outline in document form or by way of statement an outline of benefits/drawbacks  “the taking in charge process” to be addressed specifically to St Johns Gate Estate?

REPLY:

This development is constructed for some time with a planning reference S98/0596. The houses in question are built around 15 years ago.

I believe the developer connected with this development is no longer in existence.  I am checking whether a bond still exists, but is likely to be of low value because the rates were set in 1998 when this planning permission was granted.

Currently, the development is a private development.  No formal request to Take this estate in Charge was ever received by the Council.

If faults occur in this estate, it would be the registered owner/receiver who would be liable to pay for those repairs.  Finding that responsible company or owner to pay for these repairs after such an amount of time would be difficult.  Through the passage of time any workmanship faults and general wear and tear within the estate is likely to increase.  

If the estate was Taken in Charge through a plebiscite, the upkeep and maintenence would transfer to the Council.  Therefore, if there are any underlying faults in this estate, these costs would have to be incurred by the Council.

Folowing a visual surface inspection, the estate looks to be reasonably well constructed, but the underground services need more detailed investigation.

During the Taking in Charge process a series of checks and surveys on these underground services would be carried out to find out the extent of any remedial works needed.  At this stage I cannot say how much these surveys and remedial works identified may cost.