More Limerick residents to lose driveways over ‘mapping error’

More residents in a privately built housing estate in Limerick will receive letters today informing them that they do not own their front driveway due to a mapping error seven years ago.

More than 50 home owners in Kilteragh, Dooradoyle, have already received letters from the Property Registration Authority, formerly the Land Registry, informing them of the mistake.

One resident, Vincent Brick, said yesterday: “I was on to the authority today and they told me they have sent out more letters. And because of the number involved, the standard 21 days for lodging an appeal has been extended.”

It is believed that up to 150 properties are affected by the mapping error.

The houses affected were built as part of the final phase of the estate and are at addresses in Ardbracken, Clonmore and Glendare.

Residents received a letter dated April 2 from the Property Registration Authority advising them they were proposing to update their maps records.

The letter continued: “Our records indicate that an error has occurred during the registration of the above folio.

“Enclosed find an extract map showing a portion of property shaded in green that is currently registered in error on your folio.

“The authority intends to exclude said portion from your folio.”

More copies of the shock letters were sent out by the authority yesterday to other residents who have been caught up in the mapping issue.

The revised map proposes to exclude front driveways and residents have 21 days to appeal.

They held an emergency meeting last night with a view to engaging legal advisers.

Mr Brick, a detective stationed at Henry Street Garda Station in Limerick City, said he signed a contract with the developer and the builder which clearly showed his property map with its driveway.

“They are now saying I just own from my front door to my back garden wall,” he said.

Mr Brick said the site row was sparked when he challenged the estate management company PMI about parking charges last October.

He said he was advised if there was a breach, cars in his driveway would be clamped.

Mr Brick said: “I told them they could not come into my property and clamp cars parked in my driveway, and the estate management company told me I did not own my driveway, that it was part of the common land in the estate.”

As part of the annual €250 fee residents pay to PMI, residents get four car park passes, and 12 free visitor passes a year. Visitors are charged €3 after the free passes are used.

Mr Brick said if he does not own his own driveway, he can not prevent anybody parking there.

“There is a whole issue of access to our own homes involved here,” he said.

The Property Registration Authority was unavailable for comment last night.