Dublin North East Labour Deputy Tommy Broughan has demanded an immediate debate in Dail Eireann on the enfolding fire threat disaster at Priory Hall, Donaghmede, Dublin 13.
Deputy Broughan said, "Dublin City Council Area Management in Donaghmede have informed 16 of their tenants in the Priory Hall complex in the North Fringe in Donaghmede that they will have to be moved out of their homes in the next two weeks because of the serious danger of a major fire at the complex. The Priory Hall apartment complex includes 187 apartments in four and five storey blocks. Two of those blocks are home to 16 Dublin City Council tenancy households.
"I have made frequent complaints to City Manager John Tierney and North Central Area Manager Celine Reilly about serious flooding, infrastructural problems and anti-social behaviour at Priory Hall since the apartments were opened just over two years ago. A number of tenants have asked to go on the Dublin City Transfer list in that time.
"In addition to the 16 City Council tenancies there are a further seven families living there on the City Council’s Rental Accommodation Scheme and another seven families who have purchased Priory Hall apartments through the Affordable Housing Scheme. 20 apartments are vacant at present so this leaves 137 apartments which are occupied by private purchasers and private tenants.
"Following several lengthy investigations of fire safety in the apartments at Priory Hall and nearby Clongriffin by the Dublin City Fire Chief Mr. Hugh O’Neill, a Fire Safety Notice under the Fire Safety Acts was served on Coalport Building Company (which built Priory Hall) on September 4th 2009.
"The fire notice refers to the North and South Blocks of Priory Hall as a "potentially dangerous building". It also orders a schedule of urgent fire safety remedial measures. These include a fire safety management system; the urgent inspection and maintenance of the emergency lighting, fire detection and alarm systems; electrical, gas and lift installations and fire door assemblies. Portable first aid fire fighting equipment is to be provided and loose fitting stair carpets to be removed along with all building debris in the basement and other common areas.
"This appalling saga raises many very serious questions for Dublin City Council Manager John Tierney, Planning Manager Michael Stubbs, Housing Manager Ciaran MacNamara and for Environment Minister John Gormley T.D.
"Firstly, why did Manager Tierney allow 30 families to be housed at Priory Hall in the first place when their lives were clearly in danger? Why is he not rehousing all 167 families immediately to protect them? What, if any, measures has he taken to rehouse the 137 privately purchased and rented households? Has Manager Tierney contacted Minister Gormley in relation to these families’ plight? Why are they also not being rehoused immediately? These are particularly vulnerable households who are now reportedly in negative equity.
"This outrageous situation is the latest disaster to affect the North Fringe developed by Gerry Gannon since 1999. At least 300 households built by Menolly Homes were affected by the pyrites infill scandal and huge tracts of land are now left vacant and desolate since the onset of the recession.
"It is clear that the key planning and building regulations were not enforced in Priory Hall and elsewhere in the North Fringe. Dublin City Manager John Tierney, his predecessor John Fitzgerald and the Coalport Company must now be held accountable. "