‘Urgent’ need to affordable housing in Donabate, says cllr

Urgent action is needed for the provision of affordable homes for the Donabate and Portrane areas, according to local Social Democrats councillor Paul Mulville.

Mulville was speaking following the publication of a report which found that home ownerships has fallen under the current Government.

Mulville says there is “massive need” for affordable and social housing in Fingal.

“Fingal County Council has purchased a site with full planning permission for approximately 150 homes on the New Road, Donabate, and there is no excuse for development here to be stalled any further,” he said.

“There is a massive need for affordable housing at scale, and with so many families facing eviction and homelessness, there is not a moment to be lost.

“The Government must immediately sanction and fund Fingal County Council to build affordable homes here, homes that are genuinely affordable, along the lines of the hugely popular and massively oversubscribed affordable housing schemes at Dun Emer, Lusk, and now Hayestown, Rush.

“Organisations like Ó Cualann are building affordable homes on a not-for-profit basis at well below the market rate, and this model should be progressed for Donabate, without delay.”

Mulville says in addition to housing, essential amenities must be provided also.

“The scheme at the New Road includes a creche, which must be frontloaded given the pressing childcare needs facing our community, as well as other necessary infrastructure, and I would urge that a second creche be added to the scheme, given the clear demand we face,” he says.

“An affordable housing scheme here would also include social housing provision, which could be aimed at older people looking to downsize, as has been done so well at Dun Emer, Lusk.”

“With many entire housing schemes being purchased outright, young people trying to buy are being squeezed out, but with a council affordable housing scheme, at least some will be guaranteed an opportunity to buy a home.

“Furthermore, with ongoing calls from unions representing for example teachers and nurses who cannot find a place to live in Dublin near where they work, genuinely affordable housing schemes can provide homes for our frontline workers, whom we rely on.

“A dramatic increase in the delivery of genuinely affordable purchase homes at scale is required to solve this housing crisis, and it is needed right now here in Donabate Portrane.

“Government must act now to sanction and fund Fingal County Council to get boots on the ground at the New Road site to build genuinely affordable homes.”