Councillor blasts Housing Minister’s ‘disgraceful attitude on Oscar Traynor Road site’

At Monday night’s meeting of Dublin City Council Lord Mayor Hazel Chu revealed that the Minister for Housing Darragh O’Brien has still not responded to her request for a meeting on the Oscar Traynor Road housing site despite her writing to him five times.

Speaking following the meeting, Sinn Féin Councillor Mícheál Mac Donncha also said there has been a ‘tsunami of hypocrisy from the Fianna Fáil-Fine Gael government over vulture funds and cuckoo funds.’

“Dublin City Council voted for a comprehensive plan for the Oscar Traynor Road site with social housing, affordable/cost rental and affordable purchase delivered by the Council on Council land,” Cllr Mac Donncha said.

“Tonight we learned that Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien has yet to agree to a meeting with the Lord Mayor on this urgent matter, despite five requests by letter.

“We learned also from Housing Assistant Chief Executive Brendan Kenny that the Department of Housing has still not responded to the City Council’s request for approval in principle of the Oscar Traynor Road plan.

“The attitude of the Housing Minister and his Department is disgraceful.

“They are clearly dragging their feet because of their entrenched opposition to housing development led by our Councils.

“We have had a tsunami of hypocrisy from the Fianna Fáil-Fine Gael government over vulture funds and cuckoo funds.

“When our Council puts forward the alternative to the this privatised absentee landlord model of housing this Government tries to block us.”