Dublin council gets 170 complaints about protected structures

More than 90 per cent of complaints made this year in relation to the condition of protected structures in Dublin resulted in enforcement action being taken against their owners, Dublin City Council has said.

The council received 170 complaints in relation to the state of buildings on the Record of Protected Structures, ranging from concerns the building was in danger of collapse because of its condition, to complaints that work was being carried out that did not have planning permission.

Legal action

The council issued 158 warning letters to building owners as a result of these complaints, putting them on notice that they could face legal action if they are found to be in breach of planning laws.

It said it followed up these warnings with 154 enforcement notices requiring the owner to take specific measures in relation to the property, or face prosecution.

“Dublin City Council utilises the full rigours of the planning acts to enforce regulations and actively pursues owners to comply with their responsibilities under the planning and development acts to ensure protected structures are not endangered,” a spokesman for the council said.

He was responding to criticism by Independent Senator David Norris who described the council's record in protecting historic buildings as "lamentable". In addition to enforcement action where it was required, the council said it also supported the owners of these structures to protect and maintain their properties and has paid out more than €700,000 in grants under the Government's built heritage scheme this year.

“The conservation unit of the planning department actively encourages people to apply for grant funding,” the council spokesman said.

Living Cities initiative

Owners of historic buildings in the city will also have the benefit of the Living Cities initiative from next year. The measure, which enables residents of pre-1915 buildings to claim tax relief at a rate of 10 per cent a year over a 10-year period for the cost of refurbishment works, was piloted in

Waterford

and

Limerick

in 2012.