COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF TALLAGHT AREA COMMITTEE

Monday, September 25, 2023

QUESTION NO.

QUESTION: Councillor B. Pereppadan

"Could I ask the chief executive how many houses in Tallaght South and Tallaght Central are currently sealed off and an estimate as to how long it may take before they can be repaired and open for use again?"

REPLY:

South Dublin County Council typically board/shutter council properties once a property is vacated due to tenant transfers and surrender.  The shuttering is a requirement to protect the building structure from vandalism and theft whilst vacant. Currently a total of 42 properties are listed vacant within the Tallaght Central and Tallaght South Local Electoral Areas.  The following is a breakdown of the status of the property in relation to the re-let process.

LEA	Survey Stage	Works In Progress	Ready for Allocation	Total
Tallaght Central	1	6	3	10
Tallaght South	4	20	8	32

 In relation to completion of properties where works are in progress and being surveyed

• 14 properties are expected to be completed in the coming 4 weeks with the
• 12 properties completed within the next 4 to 8 week period.
• 5 properties to be surveyed are expected to be completed within the next 8 to 10 week period

Following a review of the re-let process in 2022, measures have been implemented to reduce the turnaround times (time vacated to occupied) on vacant properties.  The most significant change implemented, is the increased number of contractors available to carry out re-let works throughout the county.  In May 2023, following procurement competitions, the number of contractors available across the county increased from two to five, with three contractors assigned to the Tallaght Central and Tallaght South Electoral Areas.  The additional contractors allow for reduced time taken to get contractors to site and to address fluctuations in demand.  To date, measures from the process review has resulted in a decrease in the number of properties vacant across the county (currently 81 vacant properties) by more than 30% since the start of the year.  In relation to properties allocated, in the first 8 months of the year, 140 re-let properties across the county have been allocated, an increase of 13% on 2022 figures.  Average turnaround times have seen a gradual decline from 27.5 weeks in Q1 2023 to 26 weeks in Q3.  Further improvements are expected in the coming months, with the overall target to reduce turnaround time to 20 weeks. 

Housing Maintenance and Refurbishment section will continue to monitor the implementation of the re-let process, to ensure the overall 20-week turnaround time is achieved, without any impact on the quality of the works delivered.