COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

South Dublin County Council Crest

MEETING OF LUCAN / PALMERSTOWN / NORTH CLONDALKIN AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, January 27, 2026

MOTION NO.8

MOTION: Councillor H. Farrell

That this Committee requests the Manager to prepare a confidential report for this committee, identifying strategically important, historical or architecturally significant vacant or derelict buildings within our areas that could be considered for acquisition by South Dublin County Council through the Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) process. This could contribute to bringing these properties back into use and contribute towards addressing local housing needs, the preservation of our built heritage and contribute positively towards community morale.

REPORT:

The principle of the proposal is welcomed, however this would require a larger cross departmental management approach to addressing the issue of historic buildings being left vacant or derelict.

Currently the area of Vacant/Derelict buildings comes under the responsibility of the Housing and Climate Action Department (Enforcement/Licensing) and any related issues are dealt with under the Derelict sites legislation and vacant buildings if warranted are added to the vacant site registry.  In the case that a site is brought to the attention of Derelict sites which is a Protected Structures or located within an Architectural Conservation Area advice is sought from the Councils Architectural Conservation Officer.  As cases arise the Architectural Conservation Officer will advise on the feasibility of the adaptive reuse based on available proposals and plans.

Currently all Architectural Conservation services are delivered by the Councils Architectural Conservation Officer who is a one person team and therefore unless a particular site or related issue is brought to the attention of the Architectural Conservation Officer it would be very difficult to carry this out. In these situation the Architectural Conservation Officer would liaise with the relevant Council sections or recommend the necessary actions under related legislation available. 

The sole identification of any vacant/derelict historic building within specific areas would be a significant strain on resource given other work commitments and the current issue of dereliction and reusing these buildings for housing requires a collective approach throughout the organisation and therefore any requirements to identify historic buildings within our villages and county would require the allocation of resources and inclusion within the relevant departments/sections work programme.

The Architectural Conservation Officer continues to liaise with owners of protected structures to encourage the reuse of their properties and raising awareness of the available grant funding available under the National Architectural Conservation Grant Schemes funded by the Department.  In order to encourage owners of vacant/derelict private properties to seek the reuse of their properties to address housing needs a collective approach and incentives are required.  CPO of properties by the Council would have to be feasible and be fit for the purpose of residential use.