Plans for the Poolbeg SDZ would make 10% of 3,500 homes social housing. Councillors want to double or triple that, and add affordable housing too. They’re preparing for a showdown.
At Monday’s monthly meeting, councillors heard again about the future of the fire brigade, questioned a plank of the social-housing plan that includes PPPs, and more.
The scaffolding of our city is suffering from systematic disinvestment, writes Mick Byrne, a researcher at UCD’s School of Social Policy, Social Work and Social Justice.
Some councillors argue that Dublin City Council carries out unnecessary and costly works on vacant council homes, when they’re in decent condition and tenants are eager to move in.
Public provision of public housing used to be commonplace in Ireland, but then we shifted to rely more on the market. It’s not working, says Andy Storey.
When Dublin City Council says that less than 1 percent of its housing stock is “void”, some Dubliners are confused. That might be because of how it counts.
There aren’t delays at the Department of Housing right now, Keegan told councillors. The council is slow in getting projects to the department for approval.
In an April letter to minister Alan Kelly, Dublin City Council chief Owen Keegan suggested that the rule encouraged people “to enter the ‘homeless’ system”.
“Vacancy watch!” wrote in Davey Donnelly, with a photo of an apartment block on James Street. “Vacant as long as I’ve been in the area.” What’s the story?
More than 1,000 people have offered to help do up empty council houses or “voids” for homeless families. But it’s unclear if this effort will gain traction.
