Wall breach opposite Maxol

Rolling update on this long saga - this one October 18th, 2024. First published October 2022!

October 18th 2024 - Works to commence Monday 21st

Works to repair the boundary wall of Lucan House will commence on Monday 21st October.  

SDCC confirms this will involved tree removal. “Unfortunately, this will firstly involve the removal of two large trees and up to ten smaller trees due to the nature of the works required.  However, the new retaining structure will include significant planting with environmental and ecological benefits.  We will also be planting new trees at a separate location on the grounds of the estate to offset those removed.  In addition, we are also making plans for regular public access to the grounds while we progress consultation and planning on its future use.”

---

October 15th 2024 - Further to my September update, it was again confirmed that works to fix the wall would commence this month.

---

September 20th 2024

Works to finally commence to fix wall in October - expected timeline 4 months

Now that SDCC has taken ownership of the former Italian embassy lands and Lucan House since last June, works can finally begin on the fixing the wall breach beside Lucan Demesne opposite the Maxol Garage/McDonalds.

The tender process is already complete with a revised design expected to result in a 12% reduction in costs and a 25% reduction in time.

The programme, which will be overseen by Donnelly Civil Engineering, is expected to cost in the region of €445,000.

As part of the works the overhead lines adjacent will be taken down and poles

The main works on this are the retaining element of the wall and this is the difficult engineering part, according to SDCC. The wall is a protected structure and works need to be carried out in original materials, with a stonemason appointed to meet all the conservation requirements.

It's important to note that the works are mainly for the longer section, but SDCC said it would also try and get some fixes done at the section broken opposite the Ball Alley. Officials are conscious that other sections may need work and have also commissioned a wider survey of the wall.

The works will include a new footpath and SDCC says it will be looking at upgrading the pathways and road width "down the line".

---

March 21st - SDCC to announce tender for wall repair shortly

SDCC notified Councillors today:

"As SDCC and the Embassy have a sale of the property agreed in principle the repair of the wall has passed back to SDCC. Tender docs were issued at the end of February and the closing date for the submission of tenders is early April.

"Once we have done a tender assessment and appointed a contractor we will get a better timeline for the works and keep you informed."

---

Feb 2024

SDCC to continue pressing Italians to fix wall pending handover of grounds to Council following purchase announcement.

In early February 2024 the acting CEO says there will be news "soon" on the wall. I mention at the public meeting that some of the support barrier opposite the Maxol garage is in danger of collapsing and needs to be secured. A month later nothing has happened so I put in a written rep, marked "urgent".

----

December 2023

The sale completion of Lucan House and grounds is massive for Lucan and will also hopefully allow for works on the wall to get underway at long last. Councillors have been given no information whatsoever as to whether the repair of the wall was discussed during negotiations or influenced any part of the sale price, but most would suspect that it was. All we have at present is a comment from the Acting CEO of SDCC to say that they are "trying to get some movement from the Italian side in the interim".

As residents who have read the earlier posts below will know, the preliminary design work has been done and the repairs are likely to be costly. I am guessing that the 500k estimate given before will end up being significantly higher. I am presuming that once the lands are in Council ownership, the Council becomes responsible for the repairs and can be pushed to carry out the works without any further threat of the issue ending up in court for years and years.

They may of course use a consultation on the future use of the lands as a stalling tactic, but this would have to be assessed on whether we are seriously considering openings into the lands at any location along the Lucan Road, or whether any works can be done concurrently. As ever I will update residents when further news becomes available.

---

Feb 2023

Following some video updates since October 2022 and no real reply to my last query in December, SDCC issued the following update today:

"Just to give you the most up to date situation regarding the Italian Embassy Wall.

"SDCC had appointed Roughan & O’Donovan to carry out the design of the new wall. The detailed design is now complete and is being reviewed by SDCC staff. If it is acceptable we will be passing this to the Italian Embassy staff and requesting that they progress with the repair of the wall as soon as possible.

"Separately SDCC have engaged with relevant utility companies and agreed all enabling works. This advanced engagement will save significant time on the overall time of the project."

I will update as further info becomes available. So far SDCC won't release the design report.

---

October 2022

- Likely another year to go at least in this sorry saga -

At Tuesday's Area Committee meeting my motion was passed calling for a further update as well as the release of the consultant report on the repair works needed to fix the wall breach. This report was actually completed in February but had to be assessed by the Council.

I've attached it below for your convenience:

Ground Investigation Report Embassy Wall Lucan.pdf

Download PDF • 4.47MB

Preliminary design recommendations

According to the report, the recommended preliminary design solution would be "the construction of a new

wall supported on piles extending down through the glacial fine-grained till or into the

bedrock to reach the required resistance". In addition:

• "No deep excavations beside the local road should take place due to limitations in the working space, the potential to cause further instability of the retaining wall and due to the live carriageways that would need to be kept in services.

• "Granular fill should be placed to form a piling platform, enabling a suitable rig to install bored piles to reach rock (requirement for embedment subject to design). A pile-cap would be constructed on top to support the construction of a new replacement masonry wall built on top, tying into the wall at either end of the selected section.

• "All drainage, services, footpath and carriageway surfacing should be renewed."

As you can see from the screenshot of my agenda reply below, at last Tuesday's Area Committee meeting my motion also asked for a date for repairs to commence and clarification that the ongoing safety issues for pedestrians at this location will not affect the provision of a safe pedestrian crossing into the upgraded Lucan Demesne entrance.

In response the Council said that detailed design for the repair of the wall is currently underway and is expected to be completed by the end of November.

However it also stated that "the construction commencement date will be dependent on the responsible party procuring a contractor and on the availability of this contractor to commence the works. It is not currently possible to give a date for this as it is beyond our control."

SDCC says that there are two elements to the work, a structural element that will construct a retaining wall, but also a conservation element, given its heritage value. As such, “the stone work will require a skilled craftsman”. The works themselves, as outlined in the report and the heritage aspect are likely to cost a substantial amount and that’s assuming a) the works will be funded by the Italian side and b) suitable available contractors can be found in a timely manner.

When pressed about an update on the projected cost – roughly estimated as being in the vicinity of €500,000 two years ago – the Council official said that it would be premature to give any other figure before the design works and tender have been scoped, but that they would share any figures when they had them.

The sense I got from my interaction with the Council spokesperson was that it would be optimistic to expect the works to be completed a year from now, but it is hard to predict anything with this issue.

On a positive note, I was also informed that the temporary pedestrian management at the wall collapse will not be an impediment to the construction of a new crossing at the entrance to Lucan Demesne.

ENDS