More than 100 HAP tenants in Dublin lost their homes after poor conditions flagged
“An innocent tenant, through no fault of their own, ends up back homeless because a landlord doesn’t carry out the works,” says one councillor.
Across the city, tenants in older flats confront the stark difference between their conditions and those likely in new cost-rental homes.
Dublin city councillors say they aren’t being kept up to date about continued fall-out from governance issues at the housing charity, Peter McVerry Trust.
Grosvenor Lodge is so rundown that the council is looking at adding part of it to its derelict sites register.
The council says no because the planning permission is for offices. A new owner could apply to change that.
Phase 1b of the project to eventually build upwards of 700 homes on the site envisions building 30 fronting onto Dolphin’s Barn Road.
Instead, it’s moving staff to focus on other housing projects that will deliver more homes, said Dublin City Council’s head of housing.
This isn’t viable, so another use for the site will have to be found, a council official said.
Councils are reluctant to use the single-stage process because they take on more risk if something goes wrong, says Sinn Féin TD and housing spokesperson Eoin Ó Broin.
Councillors face tough decisions as vulnerable and desperate groups make their cases for priority amid a shortage of social homes.
The government is reportedly looking into the idea.
“I just cannot get over that they didn’t maintain the same level of funding at a minimum, because it’s a bloody great scheme,” says Fine Gael Councillor Tom O’Leary, of the homelessness-prevention scheme.
A spokesperson for the Dublin Region Homeless Executive said its priority was “to ensure there is an adequate provision of accommodation for people experiencing homelessness”.