Labour Councillor Darragh Moriarty and Chair of Dublin City Council’s Community, Gaeilge, Sport, Arts & Culture Committee, says that the government is pandering to developers overriding local democracy.
At last night’s meeting of Dublin City Council, all parties represented on Dublin City Council (except for Fianna Fáil) signed a motion which called on the government to reduce minimum standards for apartments.
The motion is the latest in an ongoing row between Dublin City Council and Minister for Housing, James Browne.
In recent months, Dublin City Council members have repeatedly criticised Minister Browne over his plans for housing, with his latest announcement of reducing apartment sizes strongly criticised by Dublin City Council members.
“Yesterday, Dublin City Council, the largest local authority in the country, sent yet another strong message to Government and to Minister James Browne, in particular, that these proposed changes are unacceptable,” Moriarty said.
“This is the latest in a string of efforts by the government to hollow out and undermine Dublin City Council. We are dismayed that such drastic proposals came to light only over the weekend, that the proposals were leaked and briefed to media with absolutely zero engagement with Dublin City Council management or Councillors. It shows a blatant disregard for the role of local authorities in sustainable planning.
The Southside councillor said “it’s not enough for the government to reduce the size and quality of people’s homes — now they appear to be going a step further by undermining the hard-fought provision for 5% community or cultural space in major developments. This was a crucial win in the 2022–2028 Dublin City Development Plan and forms the backbone of sustainable development in our city.”
“There is a real fear that what we’re witnessing is a centrally driven, developer-led race to the bottom. The LDA’s role in this must also be interrogated. I know personally of the LDA’s attempts to undermine and circumvent its obligations to provide 5% cultural and community spaces in the Dublin City Council area. Not only are private developers bending the ear of the government, but so are the body tasked with deliver public housing. If these proposals go ahead, it will completely hollow out the civic and cultural fabric of our communities. People don’t just need housing — they need places to gather, learn, create, and build community.
He noted, “this motion was supported right across the political spectrum – with only Fianna Fáil refusing to support. Dublin City Council is united in its concern and dismay at this government. These changes strike at the heart of local democracy and sustainable community planning.”
“Council has agreed to urgently write to Minister James Browne to seek clarity and request a meeting on these alarming reports. We need immediate transparency and answers.
“I am calling on the government not to agree to these changes. Communities across Dublin deserve better than to be sold out for short-term developer gain,” he said.