The Commissioners of Public Works manage a large and diverse property portfolio including the property known as Durrow Abbey House. Durrow Abbey House is leased to the Arts for Peace Foundation (AFP) charity on a 99 year lease which includes an obligation on the tenant to insure and keep the house in good repair.
A notice issued to the lessee under clause 2.13 of the lease giving notice that the property is to be inspected in line with the lease terms. Clause 2.13 of the lease allows the OPW to serve a notice giving 24 hours notice of intention to enter and examine the property for the purpose of ascertaining if any repairs need to be made.
The notice asked the Foundation to immediately inform the OPW of arrangements to allow the Commissioners, their servants or agents, to make, after the expiration of 24 hours after the service of the notice, the entry and examination referred to above.
That letter was issued after obtaining the advice of the Office of the Attorney General.
The property was visited on Monday 16th November. A condition report on the property will now be prepared by the Commissioners architects.
The Commissioners of Public Works have for a number of years engaged with the charity to resolve issues pertaining to this property. There have been a number of meetings and significant correspondence in an attempt to resolve matters. The Commissioners had agreed to provide funding (€250,000), for works to the fabric of the building, subject to standard governance and financial criteria being applied in the drawing down of funding. The AFP charity have not commenced works on the property in line with their stated objective.