City Council slammed over communal units which may be idle for 25 years

Four communal units in a residential complex will remain idle for 25 years, according to a local representative.

The units are located in the social and affordable apartment complex at Tristan Square, Chapelizod, which also comprises 180 residential apartments.

“DCC (Dublin City Council) are not leasing the facilities from the developer, they are being left idle, there are four units left idle in the ground floor, the council haven’t taken the long lease, which is 25 years, of the facilities, they only took a lease for the 180 residential units,” said Councillor Hazel de Nortúin (PBP).

“I am trying to get clarity on why there is no long-term lease regarding the four units, no one really knows, ideally they would be part of the long-term lease,” she added.

Further work is also required on these units for them to be ready to be used, according to Cllr de Nortúin.

“The four units are in grey box condition, there are wires exposed, you need the units in white box condition, that they are ready to walk into,” she said.

Cllr de Nortúin is critical of DCC regarding the lack of facilities at Tristan Square.

“They are not looking at the community side, but it’s part of the stipulation, you need facilities, the council are by-passing their own policies, they are only doing it in name, catering for the community aspect of the provision of housing,” she said.

When Cllr de Nortúin met with residents the lack of facilities became very apparent.

“I had to have conversations with residents in the square, there was no communal space we could avail of,” she said.

Cllr de Nortúin contrasted the situation in Tristan Square with that in Cornamona Court, Kylemore Road, Ballyfermot.

“Cornamona is the perfect example, it’s DCC-owned, the tenants are DCC tenants and it is managed by DCC, it has communal rooms, a kitchen, a meeting room, if you are on a list there you get the whole service, but in Tristan Square you get a reduced service. For housing that’s sustainable you need to provide facilities, the housing bodies have a more managed approach,” said Cllr de Nortúin.

The Ballyfermot representative is also concerned what the long-term effect of the lack of facilities at Tristan Square will have on the area.

“This is how anti-social kicks off,” she warned.

The building project of Tristan Square consisted of apartments which are arranged in three blocks, forming an external courtyard, surrounded by open space, according to Bennett Construction, the developer.

“Block A … is 5 storeys high … and contains a Community Hall, Concierge Office and Crèche at ground level. There is an undercroft/basement area which contains a Gym, Recreation Area and Children’s Play Area,” according to the Bennett website.

Dublin City Council have been contacted for comment.