Fianna Fáil Senator Mary Fitzpatrick has said the long-vacant Carlton Site on O’Connell Street must be used to deliver affordable housing.
The Fianna Fáil spokesperson was speaking on the party’s podcast In Our Own Words, where she was joined by Dublin City Taskforce CEO Robert Watt.
During the course of the interview, it was confirmed that the taskforce is working with other state agencies on plans for the site.
The Carlton Site is set to become a key part of the regeneration of O’Connell Street following its acquisition by the state as part of the MetroLink project.
Watt said the site presents a “major opportunity” to bring more people living back into Dublin city centre.
“We would like to see apartments there; we’d like to see a mix of affordable and social housing, certainly a strong emphasis on affordable,” Watt said on the podcast.
“If we can get more people living in this part of the city, that will improve the overall attractiveness of the city,” he said.
Senator Fitzpatrick said Dubliners want to see ambitious progress on the regeneration of O’Connell Street and the surrounding area.
“I see the challenges, but more importantly, I really see the opportunities.”
“It is our main street, not just for us Dubs, but for the country. It is our main thoroughfare, and it is a really spectacular street, and I think it can rival any international main street,” she said.
Watt said the aim of the Dublin City Taskforce is to give people more reasons to visit, work, and live in the heart of the capital.
“So much of what we’re focused on is to give people a reason to come into the city centre and to get more people living in the city centre again,” Watt said.
In July, it was reported that a deal had been agreed to redevelop the former cinema.
Speaking in July, TII chief executive Lorcan O’Connor said the purchase demonstrated that MetroLink extended well beyond the delivery of a rail line.
“The acquisition of this important site will allow us to redevelop this important area for the benefit of the Irish people, while also bringing benefits that will make the construction of MetroLink easier,” he said.
“With the area now in state ownership, we can work closely with the Dublin Task Force and other government agencies to enable the development and implementation of a master plan so that our main street can be something that we can all be proud of.”