Substandard developments: Safety of residents should be overriding concern

Priory Hall hangs like an impending nightmare over local authorities around the country, writes Michael Clifford

The north Dublin block of 190 apartments was evacuated in 2011 on foot of a court application from Dublin Fire Brigade. The building was regarded as unsafe and remedial work was not possible as the developer — former IRA hunger striker Tom McFeeley — was broke.

First and foremost, Priory Hall was a life-altering trauma for the residents and owners, who had to be rehoused elsewhere, as their homes had been rendered worthless.

Beyond that, it also rang alarm bells in local authorities throughout the country. The episode resulted in major financial imposition on Dublin City Council, which had to rehouse the displaced owners.

A similar situation arose in a development of 290 apartments in the Dublin Docklands last year in Longboat Quay. Evacuation was initially considered necessary there, but was avoided by the installation of fire marshals, who patrolled the building 24/7 until remedial work was completed. Much of the bill was footed by the Dublin Docklands Development Authority.

READ MORE: MICHAEL CLIFFORD: Council leaves residents languishing in a fire trap.

It is becoming more apparent by the day that some of the work done during the frantic building boom was shoddy and even dangerous, primarily due to a self-regulation regime that existed.

Meath County Council has now scheduled a meeting with Riverwalk Court residents

for June 22, a year after receiving the engineers’ report.

In multi-occupancy buildings — such as apartments and nursing homes — local authorities had a direct input into this work. All multi-occupancy buildings require a fire safety certificate issued by the local authority. When dangerous defects are uncovered, the council is obliged to conduct its own inspection and report results to residents who may be living in what are effectively fire traps Thereafter, a decision must be taken as to whether remedial work is possible and whether evacuation is necessary until the building is made safe.

The fire department of Meath County Council was first informed of safety issues in 2012, and last year, it was furnished with an engineers report which highlighted major problems.

Despite a number of site visits by personnel from the council, the residents have not been informed of any inspection report, and whether or not it is safe to continue living in the block.

Yesterday, the council issued a statement that said it was in ongoing contact with the developer and legal representatives over the issue, but this does not address the council’s primary responsibility to the residents. Are their homes safe? If not what is the council, which issued the fire safety certificate, doing about it?

Riverwalk Court, Fairyhouse Rd, Ratoath, Co Meath, where residents have been left in

limbo over the safety of their homes.

A different scenario arose earlier this year in Newbridge, Co Kildare, after a fire devastated a terrace of six houses in half an hour. As single occupancy units, the houses did not require a fire safety certificate when they were built in 2006.

Instead, Kildare County Council commissioned a report which warned that the 90 houses in the estate may well be fire traps. The council handed the report to the residents, advising them to have surveys conducted on their individual homes. One resident has had such a survey conducted, which confirms major defects in fire safety. While that situation is the subject of ongoing controversy — not to mention trauma for the residents – the council appears to be off the hook legally.

That get-out-of-jail card is not available to Meath County Council in relation to Riverwalk Court. A suspicion exists that the council is treading softly in addressing the matter for fear of financial repercussions if it confirms that the residents are living in fire traps.

The council has now scheduled a meeting with residents for June 22, nearly a year after being informed that they are living in a building with major fire safety defects.