Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

RollingNews.ie

Councillors reject motion to have support for O'Devaney Gardens redevelopment project rescinded

The O’Devaney project will see a number of new homes developed, including social and affordable housing.

COUNCILLORS ON DUBLIN City Council have rejected a motion calling for the support of the O’Devaney redevelopment project to be rescinded. 

The motion was tabled by Independent councillor John Lyons this evening with the support of a dozen Sinn Féin and Independent councillors. 

However, it was defeated by a majority of councillors – 61.5% to 38.5% – at a vote during tonight’s council meeting. 

At a meeting in November the elected representatives of Dublin City Council voted to support a deal made with property developer Bartra which would see the site developed as a mixed-accommodation complex. 

It followed years of failed attempts by a number of parties, including the local council, to redevelop the flat complex which was originally designed for social housing. 

The current deal foresees that the site will be divided between 30% social housing, 30% affordable-rental, 20% affordable-purchase and 20% private dwellings.

That deal was agreed between members of the Dublin Agreement Group – made up of Fianna Fáil, Labour, Social Democrats and Green Party councillors – and the developer. 

Speaking tonight, Sinn Féin’s Janice Boylan, who supported the motion suggested the deal should be scrapped and that all of the units built in the project should be public housing. 

“And I will gladly take the snide remarks and jeers from anyone in this chamber because I know I stood up for the people of O’devaney when none of you did,” she said. 

Fine Gael cllr Ray McAdam said he did not support the motion to rescind support for the deal claiming the residents of O’Devaney Gardens will face another years-long wait before any new homes are built.

“I am going to honour that commitment and I and my Fine Gael colleagues are the only party that stood up and said quite clearly to the electorate that we will ensure the homes in O’Devaney gardens will be built,” he said. 

“I am not going to do anything nor is my party colleagues anything that puts at risk the building of homes in O’Devaney.”

Last month, Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy wrote to Lord Mayor Paul McAuliffe claiming that any “deal” made was done so without any consultation with his department and that units earmarked for “affordable-rental” will require significant capital and in order to repay the finance, he said. 

In recent weeks, some representatives have questioned how workable the deal is in reality and whether the “agreement” or “deal” struck with Bartra was above-board.

Fianna Fáil’s Mary Fitzpatrick also rejected the motion and said without the deal agreed with Bartra, there will be no development on the site. 

“If you vote for this motion you’re voting for dereliction,” she told the council chamber.

“There is no plan B, the chief executive has told us all there is no funding for an alternative plan, it is a pipe dream you’re selling,” she said. 

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
21 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tommy D
    Favourite Tommy D
    Report
    Dec 2nd 2019, 10:30 PM

    Are they waiting for the locals to lose interest so it can be handed over to the private sector.

    74
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute David Lawlor
    Favourite David Lawlor
    Report
    Dec 2nd 2019, 10:47 PM

    @Tommy D: that’ll happen regardless. Probably gonna be sold to a cuckoo fund so some old dude in Texas can prop his retirement fund up

    65
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Garrett Mullan
    Favourite Garrett Mullan
    Report
    Dec 2nd 2019, 11:17 PM

    No money says CEO but at the same meeting they just agreed 20m for whitewater rafting scheme

    59
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Thomas Sheridan
    Favourite Thomas Sheridan
    Report
    Dec 2nd 2019, 11:12 PM

    Why would anyone want to buy one to live in at full price

    51
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Cork Public Transport Infrastructure Commentary
    Favourite Cork Public Transport Infrastructure Commentary
    Report
    Dec 3rd 2019, 2:14 AM

    @Thomas Sheridan: Do you like white water rafting? Is white water rafting Ireland’s next form of public transport? How can we go about making sure there are somehow traffic jams but with rafts and not cars?

    Email us your thoughts at shane.ross@oireachtas.ie.

    16
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute @mdmak33
    Favourite @mdmak33
    Report
    Dec 2nd 2019, 11:20 PM

    Shame on soc dems greens labour voting with FG to enrich developers, they’re all the same.

    57
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Cork Public Transport Infrastructure Commentary
    Favourite Cork Public Transport Infrastructure Commentary
    Report
    Dec 3rd 2019, 2:13 AM

    @@mdmak33: Do you like white water rafting? Is white water rafting Ireland’s next form of public transport? How can we go about making sure there are somehow traffic jams but with rafts and not cars?

    Email us your thoughts at shane.ross@oireachtas.ie.

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute john s
    Favourite john s
    Report
    Dec 3rd 2019, 7:26 AM

    @Cork Public Transport Infrastructure Commentary: global warming sea levels rising how do u think u are going to get to work soon. This is forward thinking

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Stephen Grehan
    Favourite Stephen Grehan
    Report
    Dec 3rd 2019, 12:25 AM

    No votes for the FFG+L+G in this house, and sadly now adding the Social Democrats to this rogues gallery.

    18
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ryan Kelly
    Favourite Ryan Kelly
    Report
    Dec 3rd 2019, 12:46 AM

    @Stephen Grehan: Did you check the SocDems vote. 3 against the deal. 1 for.

    8
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Stephen Grehan
    Favourite Stephen Grehan
    Report
    Dec 3rd 2019, 1:33 PM

    @Ryan Kelly: It only takes one rotten apple in the barrel.

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Fergal Butler
    Favourite Fergal Butler
    Report
    Dec 3rd 2019, 3:32 AM

    They have priced it so locals can’t afford it thus honouring the social cleansing role of FG/FF ! They have betrayed Dublin by turning on a low income community who won’t be able to live there anymore! The spirit of this community will continue to fight this !

    13
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute john s
    Favourite john s
    Report
    Dec 3rd 2019, 7:22 AM

    @Fergal Butler: the spirit of this community is the reason this development had to be done. You give the impression that this was a thriving place full of happiness and goodwill to each other . If that was the case they would not have touched it.

    29
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Fergal Butler
    Favourite Fergal Butler
    Report
    Dec 3rd 2019, 3:30 AM

    They have priced it so locals can’t afford it thus honouring the social cleansing role of FG/FF ! They have betrayed Dublin by turning on a low income community who won’t be able to live there anymore! The spirit of O’Devaney Gardens will continue to fight this !

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute john s
    Favourite john s
    Report
    Dec 3rd 2019, 7:24 AM

    @Fergal Butler: they have priced locals out of it ? Less than market price social houses rent subsidies etc bad people these councillors.

    Or do you mean u want it for free.

    26
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Gordon Hughes
    Favourite Gordon Hughes
    Report
    Dec 3rd 2019, 7:34 AM

    @Fergal Butler: is it meant to be a locals only option on these houses ?

    13
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Fergal Butler
    Favourite Fergal Butler
    Report
    Dec 3rd 2019, 3:31 AM

    They have priced it so locals can’t afford it thus honouring the social cleansing role of FG/FF ! They have betrayed Dublin by turning on a low income community who won’t be able to live there anymore! The spirit of this community will continue to fight this !

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Patrick FitzGerald
    Favourite Patrick FitzGerald
    Report
    Dec 3rd 2019, 3:49 PM

    Selling public land during a housing crisis is wrong, simple as that. Market rents are totally unacceptable, the idea that any proportion of publicly funded housing should be rented at the mercy of the soulless private sector is abhorrent.

    1
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

Leave a commentcancel

 
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds