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Housing Issues

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 February 2014

Tuesday, 25 February 2014

Questions (469, 470, 479, 480, 481, 482, 483)

Dessie Ellis

Question:

469. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the steps he is taking to protect tenants of voluntary housing bodies who are at threat of displacement or homelessness during required refurbishment work following the discovery of build defects. [9292/14]

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Dessie Ellis

Question:

470. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the problems at Gallery Quay apartments in Dublin docklands where Túath Housing-owned apartments have been found to have serious structural issues and his plans to support tenants and the housing body through the refurbishment of these properties. [9293/14]

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Dessie Ellis

Question:

479. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the serious defects to residential homes in the docklands. [9371/14]

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Dessie Ellis

Question:

480. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide a commitment to support the voluntary housing association, Túath, in its legal case against developer, designers and insurance companies for the docklands apartments. [9372/14]

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Dessie Ellis

Question:

481. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will allocate funding to Túath Housing, until legal action is complete, in order to ensure that the works required are completed for all the residents. [9373/14]

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Dessie Ellis

Question:

482. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will commission an independent structural, engineering report to be carried out on all commercial and residential units, social, affordable and private, in order to assess the extent of the building defects in the docklands development and other similar developments used for social housing. [9374/14]

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Dessie Ellis

Question:

483. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide assurances to all residents in the docklands that he will support residents where they have difficulties with legal cases against developers, designers and insurance companies. [9375/14]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 469, 470 and 479 to 483, inclusive, together.

The 60 apartments owned by Túath Housing Association at Gallery Quay were constructed as part of a private development of 300 apartments and commercial units at Gallery Quay over the period 2005 to 2006. In accordance with Part V of the Planning and Development Act, 2000, up to 20% of the dwellings were made available for social housing purposes. As a result some 60 apartments were acquired by Túath Housing Association at a cost of over €15 million and funded under my Department’s Capital Loan and Subsidy Scheme (CLSS). Under the terms of the CLSS Approved Housing Bodies received a grant of up to 100% of the cost of constructing or purchasing accommodation for low-income families. An annual management and maintenance allowance of €543 is also payable in respect of dwellings occupied by persons drawn from the local authority housing waiting lists.

I met with the CEO and technical personnel from Túath last Wednesday and was advised of the design and construction issues which are giving rise to problems in Túath-owned properties at Gallery Quay. It appears that the external fabric of the building, which consists of a rendered concrete slab with internally skimmed plasterboard on a proprietary steel dry-wall frame, is subject to water ingress. As a result, during wet and windy conditions, water appears to leak through the outer skin and run down the face of the external wall. Seals around windows and doors also appear to permit water ingress. This, in turn, is giving rise to dampness, condensation and mould growth. The problems became more apparent during the recent wet and stormy weather. Not all apartments are subject to water ingress but I understand that up to 12 units are severely affected.

I understand Túath’s building surveyors are currently carrying out a detailed apartment-by-apartment condition survey of all their units at Gallery Quay and are drawing up a schedule of works to address all latent and inherent defects as soon as possible. I understand the joinery suppliers are also proposing to carry out an on-site inspection and to advise of water ingress around doors and windows. My Department will await the submission of this report and, having considered it, will be happy to engage with Túath in advancing the optimum solution for remedying the situation.

My Department is liaising closely with Túath and Dublin City Council to ascertain the cause of the water ingress and in advancing practical and sustainable refurbishment works to resolve the problem. My Department’s Architectural Inspector along with colleagues from the City Council accepted an invitation from Túath to attend an on-site meeting last Friday with the relevant insurers and to assess the nature and extent of the problem. It will take some time to fully and comprehensively evaluate the cause of the water ingress and to develop and implement appropriate remediation measures. In the interim, Túath are carrying out palliative repairs to the building fabric in order to deal with the immediate problems caused by water ingress and to prevent further damage to homes in the event of a storm.

At this stage, it would appear that the problems affecting the Túath apartments at Gallery Quay are site-specific and are primarily due to design and workmanship issues. My Department will continue to work closely with Túath and Dublin City Council to ensure that suitable arrangements are in place to effect the necessary remedial works and that appropriate accommodation is provided for those families who may have to vacate their homes while the refurbishment works are on-going.

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