Councillors asked to reverse O’Devaney Gardens decision

DUBLIN City Council has warned local politicians that a motion they approved in July could delay the redevelopment of O’Devaney Gardens in the North Inner City.

The O’Devaney Gardens flats used to house upwards of 300 residents and four of the 1950s flat blocks are still occupied by a small number of residents.

A regeneration project was scuppered by the financial meltdown several years ago but a major new housing project for the site is in the pipeline. 

Cllr Eilis Ryan (WP) put forward a motion at July’s council meeting calling for the redevelopment of the complex to include 100 per cent public, mixed income housing.

“Under this scheme, all housing on the site will be built by and rented from the Council, with 50 per cent of units rented at current rents to households on housing lists, and 50 per cent of housing units rented to households earning above the waiting list threshold, but with demonstrated housing need,” she said.

“These would pay higher rents in line with their income.”

However, in a letter to councillors last week council chief executive, Brendan Kenny, said the motion wasn’t compatible with current planning permission for the site and a new application would have to be made.

This would delay development of the current proposal of 479 residential homes that includes 144 public housing units.

The motion from Cllr Ryan called for all housing on the site to be built by and rented from the council, but Kenny says a key element of the City Development Plan is the delivery of quality homes in a sustainable community with different unit sizes and types and a mix of tenure.

“A mix of 50 per cent public housing and 50 per cent cost rental will not deliver a sustainable mix of housing tenure to  fulfil the vision to regenerate O`Devaney Gardens and would not be consistent with national housing policy or indeed with the City Development Plan,” he added.

“It would deliver a large housing estate with all homes there owned by Dublin City Council.”

Kenny pointed out that the council isn’t obliged to comply with the motion and is recommending councillors consider changing their decision to back it.

Cllr Nial Ring (Ind) said Kenny made a “very persuasive argument” especially the assertion that the redevelopment couldn’t go ahead with the motion.

“Even more persuasive is the argument that the Government would not and could not fund the redevelopment if it deemed it contrary to national or local strategies and policies on planning, housing and social exclusion” he added.

“We also have to consider the residents still living in the complex and their need to be rehoused out of the complex to facilitate its demolition and their need to return to the new units when built if they so wish.

“In addition to the above two strands of argument, it is also incumbent on us to show leadership and not delay the overall proposal. We have to do our bit.”

Cllr Ring described Cllr Ryan as a constituency colleague who is held in the highest regard by her fellow councillors and said that while he supported her “visionary concept” he was asking her to reconsider her motion.