Temporary homes for Priory Hall residents

RESIDENTS OF the unsafe apartment complex at Priory Hall, who have been living in hotel rooms for a fortnight, will be allocated temporary housing by Dublin City Council this afternoon.

The 187-apartment complex in Donaghmede was evacuated by order of the High Court after it was found to pose a serious fire safety risk.

The council, which sought the evacuation last month, was ordered by president of the High Court Mr Justice Nicholas Kearns to cover the costs of accommodating the residents.

Some 180 residents, including 49 children and babies, moved into the Regency Hotel in Whitehall two weeks ago. Bewley’s Dublin Airport Hotel was subsequently used to house evacuees.

From today, families will be able to move into apartments and houses near Priory Hall. Some 37 homes have been provided by the National Asset Management Agency while five families are to be housed by a voluntary housing association.

A spokesman for the council said the 42 units would be allocated from an office in Clongriffin from 2pm. Each house or apartment had been chosen to suit the requirements of each family to enable them access work, schools, or other essential facilities he said.

The council hoped that all families requiring accommodation would have the keys to their new temporary homes by tonight.

Nama had supplied a list to the council of some 332 vacant properties in areas such as Belmayne Clongriffin, Finglas, Baldoyle and Northern Cross on the Malahide Road. It is understood that most of the units are in the Clarehall Village, Belmayne and Coast estates, but residents will not know until today which properties they have been allocated.

Darren Kelly, who has been living with his wife and two children in the Regency Hotel for the last two weeks, said the move to an apartment was little relief, given the enormity of the situation the residents faced.

“It’s been tough going living out a of bag, especially with two kids. An apartment is somewhat better, but it’s still just a short-term solution to a long-term problem.”

Unpublished reports commissioned by the council had identified further structural defects in the building he said.

“Until we have those reports, we don’t know what we’re dealing with, if another case is going to have to be brought or how it’s all going to be resolved.”

Work to address the fire safety risks at the complex began last week. Despite objections from residents, works are being carried out by developer Thomas McFeely, whose Coalport Building Company built the apartments in 2006.

The judge, who has ordered the work to be completed by November 28th, said it was not within his powers to direct the council to commission another party to do the work.

He is to hold weekly court hearings to monitor the progress of the work. Fire safety inspector Donal Casey last Friday told the judge he was broadly satisfied with the fire safety works being carried out.

However, he had concerns about other matters not related to fire safety. There was a report indicating some mortar was soft and wall ties were inadequate, he said.