Residents worried over fire safety concerns at the north Dublin apartment scheme Priory Hall.
In December 2009, 16 social housing families were evacuated from the 187 apartment complex Priory Hall at Donaghmede in Dublin, when the scheme was declared a fire risk.
Local councillors expressed disbelief that Dublin City Council (DCC) took on apartments in the scheme at Priory Hall and that compliance certificates were issued by the developer's architects.
The scheme developed by Coalport Building Company Limited has damp problems and has been declared a fire risk.
Private owners who have paid around 270,000 euro for two bed units remain in the complex, as do those who purchased units through DCC under the affordable or shared ownership schemes.
Shared ownership purchaser Ursula Graham has not slept since she learned her home has safety issues.
Everybody doesn’t know if they’re safe or they’re not safe, they're worried if there is a fire are we going to get out alive.
Labour councillor Seán Kenny calls on the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government John Gormley to review the building regulations as the Priory Hall case,
Highlights the fact that the planning, the building control regulations, the self certification, compliance procedures are clearly not working here.
DCC has confirmed it will take legal action against the developers over fire safety and planning conditions. They will be seeking recovery of the costs of evacuating 16 families.
In a statement Coalport said architects Oppermann Associates issued the certificates of compliance. The company says it is committed to finishing the project.
An RTÉ News reporter broadcast on 15 February 2010. The reporter is John Kilraine.
