Derelict properties a 'ticking timebomb' threat to public safety, says Cork TD

It comes as firefighters had to make safe a derelict building in the heart of Cork city

Crews from Anglesea Street earlier dealt with a potentially dangerous building in Barrack Street. Picture: Larry Cummins

Derelict properties are a “ticking timebomb” threat to public safety, a TD warned after firefighters had to make safe a derelict building in the heart of Cork city.

Campaigner Frank O’Connor also spoke of his upset and frustration at seeing another potential home fall victim to dereliction during a housing crisis.

The comments came after firefighters removed a large section of roof from a three-storey terraced property on Barrack St, just days after they tackled a fire at a derelict house on Boyce’s Street on the city’s northside.

The Barrack St property was added to the city's derelict sites register in June having been flagged as a building of concern by its building control section in April 2021.

A spokesperson described the property as a challenging site to address, given that a number of potential owners had been identified, and correspondence had to be sent to each as part of the process.

But the alarm was raised at about 12.20pm on Wednesday when a local resident called the fire brigade with concerns that the building’s roof had come loose.

Firefighters used a hydraulic platform to inspect the roof from above.

In the context of a weather warning and rising winds, a decision was made on-site to demolish most of the damaged roof structure on public safety grounds.

Mr O’Connor, who along with his partner, Jude Sherry, has been highlighting the problem of vacancy and dereliction for several years, visited the scene a short time later.

“Long-time vacancy is the gateway to dereliction,” he said.

“It was upsetting to walk over there and see this happening. And it’s not just the fact that this is a property not being used in a housing crisis.

“It’s the impact this vacancy and dereliction in general has on the local community, on people walking by, on the economy. It’s such a bad image for the city.

“I know the council is starting to act, and things are beginning to change, but it’s not enough. More needs to be done, and the action needs to be a lot more urgent.

“The city deserves it, and the people who live here deserve it.” 

He called again for a full audit of city centre buildings to assess the full extent of dereliction.

The couple has identified a staggering 700 derelict properties within a 2km radius of Cork city centre.

It is more than seven times the official figure on the council’s derelict sites register.

Sinn Féin TD for Cork North Central Thomas Gould said the incident on Barrack St so soon after the Boyce’s St blaze demonstrates the urgent need for the council to ramp up its approach to dereliction.

“These are only two of a large number of incidents we have seen this year,” he said.

“Dereliction is a blight on this city. It is a drain on our communities and, with recent incidents, a drain on our emergency services.

“It’s no longer enough to claim this is a complex issue. This is an issue that needs to be acted on now.” The area around the property has been cordoned off and it is due to be inspected by council engineers on Thursday.