Concern about vacant properties not secured before Halloween

VACANT properties need to be secured ahead of Halloween, according to Cllr Hazel De Nortúin (PBP).

Speaking at the South Central area meeting, De Nortúin raised concerns about vacant properties which are scheduled for accommodation on the housing list, noting a vacant house in Cherry Orchard which had a steel security door “pulled off it” recently.

“It was retrofitted, and we talk about resources from Dublin City Council that aren’t never ending, so we need to make sure that anything that’s coming in, we are not allowing it to be vandalised,” said De Nortúin.

“If somebody could come in and check that property is ready to let.

It has been allocated to somebody and the only thing that is waiting is the ESB, but again, which he believes “looks to be complete” for the last couple of weeks, and expressed hope that the ESB connection can be made “to get somebody in there asap.”

Given the time of year that it is, I don’t want to have a callback that something has been vandalised because it is vacant and it has been there for the taking.”

Cllr De Nortúin also recognised the work that the housing department are doing to turn over voids into accommodation.

Cllr Vincent Jackson (Ind) is aware that the house in question Responding at the meeting, Alan Sherry, senior executive officer Dublin City Council, said they are aware of the property in question and that the maintenance section are on the case to “get the property occupied as quick as possible.”