Each SPC has at least 3 meetings per year. 

To assess the microbiological quality of the water and to minimise any public health risk, bathing waters are sampled and testing is carried out approximately twice per month outside the bathing season and once per week during the bathing season. This is more frequent than is required under the regulations, which require only four samples per year.

 The location where the sample is taken at each bathing area is where most bathers are expected. Samples are taken 30cm below the water surface in water that is at least 1 metre deep.

Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council take samples approximately every week during the bathing season and every fortnight outside of the bathing season across 9 bathing water locations along the coastline.

Samples are tested for two types of faecal indicator bacteria: Escherichia coli (also known as E. coli) and Intestinal Enterococci (I.E.). The Central Laboratory count the number of each these bacteria, which may indicate the presence of pollution e.g. found in sewage or animal waste.

The results of the analysis are assessed against the standards defined in the Bathing Water Quality Regulations 2008 and on a four-year data set using a statistical approach.

When you bought your affordable home, you got it at a discount to other similar properties on the market. The clawback is based on the percentage discount you got when you bought your affordable home. If you decide to sell your home, we apply this percentage to the price you get for the sale, depending on the current value of the property.  Depending on the value of your property when you sell it, the calculation of the clawback may vary. Please contact Housing Loans, DLRCC, County Hall, Marine Road, Dún Laoghaire, Co Dublin. Telephone 01-2047058 or email HousingLoans@dlrcoco.ie for more information.

Annual gross income from the previous tax year is used in assessing the household income in an application. This includes the following:

• All the people living in the home aged 18 years or over (except for those in full-time education or engaged in a SOLAS apprenticeship that are under23 years of age)
• The registered property owner (and their spouse if applicable) except if your home is one of the following:
  • Rented from a landlord with a current tenancy agreement registered with the Residential Tenancies Board in place
  • Provided by an Approved Housing Body
  • A communal residence

Some payments from the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection are not considered when working out your household income (see below for further details).

Annual gross income from the previous tax year is used in assessing the household income in an application. Income from the home owner, the applicant and their spouse will be considered. If your home is one of the following, the local authority will only consider the income earned by the tenant (and their spouse if it applies), and not the owner: (i) Rented from a landlord (please provide RTB agreement) (ii) Accommodation provided by an Approved Housing Body (iii) A communal residence (i.e group homes).

THere is an annual standing charge for the available of the service plus a volume charge based on the volume of water used.

• We operate a differential rent scheme, which means the more a household earns the more rent is charged. Conversely, the less a household earns the less is charged.
• The person in receipt of the highest income is the principal earner. All other persons in the household with an income are subsidiary earners. 
• Rent is calculated as follows: principal earner’s income less €35 multiplied by 16%. Subsidiary earners income is calculated the same way, but is capped at €18 per earner. A €1 rent deduction is applied to all children and students under 23 in the household. An additional service charge may also apply, such as boiler maintenance or a heating charge.

Council Housing rents are based on a system called ‘differential rents.’ This means that the amount of rent you pay depends on the amount of your total household income. If your income increases then so does the rent and if your income decreases then the weekly rent decreases accordingly. Rent is calculated based on the current Differential Rent Scheme.

The person in receipt of the highest income is the principal earner. All other persons in the household with an income are subsidiary earners. Rent is calculated as follows:- principal earner’s income less €35 multiplied by 16%. Subsidiary earners income is calculated the same way, but is capped at €18 per earner. A €1 rent deduction is applied to all children and students in the household. An additional service charge may also apply, such as boiler maintenance or heating charge.

Funding is provided in full and up-front. It will be paid by bank transfer, directly to the group’s bank account. We may ask successful applicants to return a bank set-up form, to enable us to process the bank transfer.