Longboat Quay residents threaten legal action

Residents of Longboat Quay, the Dublin apartment complex that needs more than €4 million of remedial fire-safety work, have threatened legal action against the Dublin Docklands Development Authority.

A number of residents met Minister for the Environment Alan Kelly on Tuesday in an attempt to resolve the question of who will pay to fix the fire defects in the 299 apartments built in 2006 by developer Bernard McNamara.

Dublin Fire Brigade has issued a fire safety notice ordering work, including the installation of a smoke ventilation system, and fire stopping materials, be started by November 1st. Failure to comply with the fire notice could result in evacuation of the building.

Speaking after the meeting with Mr Kelly, Michael Ingle, an apartment owner and resident, said the Minister had been “supportive” and was determined to help us to find a solution.

“The Minister has been very helpful. He’s going to try to bring some people together, crack some heads and get the problem solved as quick as possible. As you know four weeks notice has been given to us.”

The residents maintain the authority, and the Nama-funded receiver to Mr McNamara's company Gendsong, should fund the work.

The authority has ownership of the common areas in Longboat Quay and also has an interest in 37 apartments bought under the affordable housing scheme. The receiver, Peter Coyne of Duff & Phelps has control of 18 apartments in the complex.

The authority and Nama last week made an offer of €2.75 million, but this includes almost €1.25 million already spent by the DDDA on the installation of fire alarms. Residents said the offer was “wholly unacceptable” and insufficient to allow work to begin. They said they had only received an offer of €750,000 to date.

“The DDDA and Receiver are responsible, and it is for them to come forward with a full solution. We outlined our position in writing to the DDDA last Friday, and have given them seven days to respond,” Mr Ingle said. “If no meaningful response is forthcoming, then we may have no option but to go to Court.”

The residents also want the 18 apartments that are in receivership to be sold to pay for the work. “The money that could be realised from these 18 apartments could pay for in full the cost of the works required,” Mr Ingle said.

Mr Kelly did not offer any additional money Mr Ingle said, but did undertake to “bring the DDDA closer to the table and to get them to have a little think about what their position is”.

A spokesman for Mr Kelly said he listened to what the residents had to say but would not be commenting further at this time.

Dublin City Council chief executive Owen Keegan, who is also the chairman of the DDDA, said on Monday night that the council could not rehouse the residents of the Longboat Quay apartment complex if it is evacuated.

The council in 2011 were ordered by the High Court to accommodate the residents evacuated from Priory Hall, the north Dublin firetrap complex built by Thomas McFeely.