A mature student has accused D·n Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council of being "absolutely unreasonable" by not giving him enough time to move a collection of items from his 18th-century house.
Mr Gerald Sands (54) said his one month notice to move from Hinchoge House, Carrickmines, expired on Monday and he feared the sheriff would arrive "at any moment" to move his belongings.
But late last night he heard he had been given two weeks' further notice to move by the council, a time he insists is "still really pushing it".
The house had been bought by the council with a compulsory purchase order (CPO), to allow for the construction of the South Eastern Motorway.
It is understood the council has recently asked a law officer to involve a sheriff in the matter.
Mr Sands, it is understood, signed an agreement in April this year permitting him to stay in the house, but in which he agreed to a one month notice being served to leave.
The letter, giving the notice, was sent on October 26th. But Mr Sands said he did not receive it until almost a week later.
He said the council were making it "as bad as they possibly can".
Meanwhile, An Taisce said it has concerns surrounding the issue. "Proper procedures need to be carried out, as the building was scheduled as a protected structure - after the CPO was granted," said Mr Ian Lumley, heritage officer, An Taisce.
Mr Sands told The Irish Times: "my entire life is here. I cannot physically move in the month I have been given" Mr Sands, who is an art history and architecture student, said he has had to defer his final year of study because of the situation surrounding the house.
The council would not comment on the matter yesterday.