COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF RATHFARNHAM / TEMPLEOGUE / FIRHOUSE / BOHERNABREENA AREA COMMITTEE
Tuesday, September 10, 2024
MOTION NO.16
MOTION: Councillor R. Mannion
Given the horrific fire that recently destroyed the building at the St. Augustinian's site in Ballyboden, I request that the Council Executive provide a commitment to address concerns of citizens related to vacant buildings/sites, and also seek a commitment that the securing the structure will now be enforced by SDCC if not done by the site owner.
REPORT:
The powers of local authorities in relation to dangerous structures are set out in Section 3 of the Local Government (Sanitary Services) Act, 1964 (the Act)
Section 3(2)(a) of the Act is as follows:
“If, in the opinion of a sanitary authority, it is necessary to do so in the interests of the safety of any person, the authority may, by their servants or agents carry out on a dangerous structure situate in their sanitary district such works (including the demolition of the structure or any part of it and the clearing and levelling of the site thereof) as will, in the opinion of the authority, prevent the structure from being a dangerous structure and for that purpose, the authority may, by their servants or agents, enter on any land.”
South Dublin County Council inspected this site on July 22nd and contacted the owner setting out remedial works to be carried out. On July 23rd the council re-inspected the site and engaged a council contractor to secure the property and the gates to same. The Council’s contractor checked the site on 16th August and reported no intrusions had occurred.
Dublin Fire Brigade attended the site when a fire broke out on the evening of August 20th.
Since the fire on the 20th of August, South Dublin County Council has secured the property on two further occasions.
The matters will be pursued with the owners of the site in accordance with the provisions of the Act.