Former youth centre handed over to Respond

A FORMER youth centre building in Ballyfermot, not in use for 20 years, has been handed over to housing body Respond by Dublin City Council.

The city council own the Sarsfield Road property, known locally as the former OLV building – Our Lady of Victory.

According to a report by the council, the property has “not been in use for approximately 20 years.”

“It is proposed to dispose of the site to Respond, an Approved Housing Body and registered charity, for the development of social housing units for older persons.”

Planning permission has been obtained by Respond for six residential units for older persons at the site, which was one of the terms and conditions outlined in the disposal.

Another condition was that the council dispose of freehold title under the terms of the Low Cost Sites scheme to the purchaser. The disposal price is listed as €762.

In 2015, The Echo reported that retired army veteran Tommy Fennell spent 18 months refurbishing the OLV building on Sarsfield Road – cycling over from his home on Blackhorse Avenue every week.

Originally from Ballyfermot, Tommy was at the time, looking for support from local businesses and community groups, to help maintain the facility – either through sponsorship or by renting space in the building.

He ran the Black Dragon karate club out of the building each weekend, and rented a room to a local Christian church, which effectively kept the place going at the time.

The OLV building had outstanding rates of approximately €16,000, but Tommy received assistance from former Labour TD Michael Conaghan, who managed to secure a significant write down of the debt.

The Echo could not reach Mr Fennell before going to print.