Bartra accused of ‘bully boy tactics’ by Sinn Fein councillor

The CEO of property developer Bartra has been accused of using “bully boy tactics” by Sinn Fein councillor Janice Boylan.

Boylan was speaking after reports surfaced today about how the chief executive of Bartra told the Government that it must purchase 500 apartments in the new O’Devaney Gardens scheme for €400,000 each.

If the Government did not agree to the deal, the firm said it would sell the units to a vulture fund, it has been reported

“Minister O’Brien was told by the CEO of Bartra that unless the government buy 500 apartments in the new O’Devaney Gardens plan for €400k each then Bartra would sell them all to a cuckoo fund,” Boylan said.

“These are bully boy tactics and are totally unacceptable.

“This is a very deal bad for the tax payer, for Dublin City Council but most importantly for the thousands of people languishing on the housing list and trying to buy or rent at an affordable rate.

“This plan was never about solving the housing crisis and helping those in need of housing.

“It was always pointed in the direction of lining the developers pockets.

“Bartra have been gifted with the land at O’Devaney Gardens and the community has not and will not benefit,” she said.

Boylan said that the original plan for O’Devaney Gardens, which would see the scheme be 100% affordable and social housing, would have helped eradicate such problems.

“I am calling on Dublin City Council and the Minister Darragh O’Brien to revert back to the plan that we in Sinn Féin proposed for this site,” she said.

“Dublin City Council should be the lead developer on public land.

“This would ensure 100% social and affordable homes on this site and Oscar Traynor Road site. This is far more cost effective and will meet the housing needs of Dublin.

“Dublin City Council have the land and the plans to meet the housing crisis head up. We need a Minister for Housing that supports us not developers holding the public to ransom.”