City council votes to reject Oscar Traynor Road plan

Dublin city councillors voted last night to reject a controversial plan to build 853 homes on a site in Coolock.

Councillors voted by 48 votes to 14 against the €250 million Oscar Traynor Road project due to concerns that half of the homes on the State-owned site would go to Glenveagh, a private developer announced as he preferred bidder of the site earlier this year.

Councillors from the Green Party, Labour, the Social Democrats, the Independents Group and Sinn Féin called on DCC to take over the project with support from the European Investment Bank and the Department of Housing so it could all be public housing.

However council Chief Executive, Brendan Kenny said the council do not have the expertise to manage the project.

Only Fine Gael voted in favour as a group.

Speaking following last nights vote, Dublin Sinn Féin housing spokesperson Cllr. Daithí Doolan said.

“Tonight’s rejection of the Oscar Traynor land giveaway is a major step forward for housing in Dublin.

“It gives Dublin a great opportunity to develop council and real affordable housing.

“This will be done with Dublin City Council taking the lead and developing the site with funding from the Department of Housing and the European Investment Bank.

“This will ensure that this public land will provide a good mixture of council, affordable to rent and affordable to buy homes.”

His fellow local City Councillor Mícheál MacDonncha said:

“Tonight’s vote paves the way for the development of housing to meet the needs of those languishing on housing lists and those trapped in the private rented sector.

“Sinn Féin will continue to work with other political parties, the housing manager and the Minister for Housing Darragh O’Brien to deliver on this approach for the Oscar Traynor land.”

Social Democrats Housing spokesperson and Dublin Bay North TD, Cian O’Callaghan,also reacted to the outcome of last nights resounding vote.

“I hope this vote signals a new direction for housing policy in Dublin,” Deputy O Callaghan said.

“The message is clear – people want to see housing that is affordable on public land.

“State-owned sites like the one on Oscar Traynor Road offer a great opportunity to build homes that are genuinely affordable to buy or rent.

“This opportunity cannot be wasted by selling public land to private developers.

“The result of the councillors’ vote should be a wakeup call for the Council Executive and the Department of Housing. Proposals that do not maximise the number of cost rental, social and affordable purchase homes on State-owned land will not be passed.

“Future proposals for this site and others must be shaped by this decision.”