Apartments have no fire safety or disability access certs
By Aura McMenamin
The developer of a contentious apartment complex in Clondalkin did not submit fire safety or disability access certificates during construction, Sinn Finn TD Eoin Ó Broin has alleged.
The Echo revealed last month that Vincent Cosgrave of Cavvies Limited had admitted that up to 13 apartments in the Larkfield House complex on Coldcut Road were built without planning permission.
The apartment complex on Coldcut Road
Eoin Ó Broin, Sinn Fein spokesperson on Housing, Planning and Local Government told The Echo: “I have spoken to the heads of housing and planning in South Dublin County Council who told me that [the developer] did not submit commencement, completion, disability or fire safety certificates.”
However, The Echo understands that fire safety is not a concern.
Under the 2014 Building Control Acts 1990-2014, the law requires mandatory design certification, lodgement of plans and particulars, builders supervision and certification and mandatory inspection by an assigned certifier.
It is an offence to occupy or use a building without having a valid certificate of compliance on completion or fire safety certificate or disability access certificate in place as required.
“Before 2014 builders could build whatever the hell they wanted. These laws came in to stop the likes of Priory Hall. The problem is that the law requires developers [not the council] to assign the certifier,” Ó Broin said.
“Technically there is no protocol to submit certification after an apartment building has been built,” he said.
South Dublin County Council did not return requests for comment.
Developer Vincent Cosgrave declined to comment.
The Echo reported last month that the developer of Larkfield House apartments, Cavvies Limited, had built more homes than allowed under planning permission and that as a result, tenants receiving Housing Assistance Payments (HAP) from South Dublin County Council, could not have their payments processed.
The application to increase the number of permitted apartments in the complex is currently with An Bord Pleanala.
The Echo understands that tenants who relied on the local council HAP payments worth as high as €1275 (and subject to a discretionary increase) to pay for their rent on March 1, are now in rent arrears and some have been served with 28-day notices to quit.
Deputy Ó Broin said: “No one wants 20 families to present as homeless next month.
“The council caught this and are trying to do this right, but pressure needs to be put on [the developer] to comply with certification requirements.”
