MORE than 40 Belmayne properties owned and managed by
Cluid Housing Association are in need of extensive repair work due to fire
safety problems with the structure of the buildings.
The 42 properties were among 300 housing units
identified by Dublin City Council’s fire officer and a fire engineer consultant
for falling short of fire safety regulations.
Work on these properties alone will take three months
in total to complete with tenants being relocated for a period of one week as
part of a rolling programme.
A spokeswoman for Cluid, which develops and manages
social and affordable housing, said it visited or spoke to all tenants either
face-to-face to explain the situation since news of the problem broke last
week.
“There are 42 apartments managed by Clúid that are
affected and we will be starting on March 5, and expect to take approximately
three months to complete the work,
? she told Northside People.
“The residents will have to leave their property while
the works are being completed.
“Clúid are currently in the process of securing
alternative accommodation so that residents who have to temporarily move out of
their apartment will have a comfortable place to stay in the local area. This
will either be in Belmayne or close by.
?
The fire safety problems in Belmayne were identified
during recent work to repair a burst pipe. The developer, Kitara Limited,
notified Dublin City Council of the situation.
The homes in Belmayne are close to Priory Hall, the
187-apartment complex from which residents were evacuated four months ago due
to fire safety concerns.
A statement from Kitara Limited confirmed that
residents in affected properties would have to relocate for three to four days
while repair work is carried out.
“Kitara Limited will maintain ongoing and regular
contact with residents at each stage of this process and is working with Dublin
City Council, with the chief fire officer for Dublin, with specialist
engineering consultants, and with all other stakeholders to bring about a
satisfactory and timely resolution to this issue,
? the statement read.
“The aim is to minimise disruption and have the matter
rectified as quickly as possible with the minimum of inconvenience to all
residents of Belmayne.
?
A spokesperson for Dublin City Council said its fire
officer is satisfied that when the remedial works are completed, this defect
will have been addressed in the Belmayne properties.
“Remedial works have already begun and are likely to
take up to one week for each affected apartment,
? the spokesperson stated.
“While this situation needs to be rectified in a
timely manner, there are a number of alternative fire safety controls within
the complex, all functioning and subject to a regular maintenance programme.
?
Dublin North East TD Tommy Broughan (Lab) said
questions needed to be asked of the planning and fire regulatory authorities
about how this situation could possibly have occurred yet again in the North
Fringe.
“After the Priory Hall disaster, it is truly
incredible that another problem of fire safety has arisen immediately adjacent
in Belmayne,
? Deputy Broughan stated.
“The first priority is clearly to resolve this matter
for residents and to ensure that fire safety features in all homes in Belmayne
and the North Fringe are of the highest possible standard.
?
Donaghmede ward councillor MÃcheál Mac Donncha (SF)
said it was a matter of concern that fire safety issues have arisen in
Belmayne.
“Given the scandal of the nearby Priory Hall complex,
this latest development will naturally raise renewed concerns about the
soundness of construction and fire safety in apartments built during the
property boom,
? he stated.