Housing double standards claim

MINISTER for housing Simon Coveney and Dublin City Council (DCC) have been called on to reconsider a controversial social housing development in Scribblestown.

The Northside site, between Finglas and Dublin 15 and next to Cabra, has been earmarked for 70 units, all expected to be social housing homes.

Cabra-Finglas councillor David Costello (FF) believes 100 per cent social housing on the site is not sustainable development given its proximity to services and the level of depravation in the area. Concerns have already been raised by locals demanding that new developments in the area have a social mix.

Finglas Action Group, founded in the wake of a decision to build 40 modular homes for the homeless at St Helena’s Drive, close to popular GAA club Erin’s Isle, have said the area is being targeted for 100 per cent social housing developments.

Cllr Costello says an agreement between Dublin councillors for new developments to be a 30/30/40 mix of social, affordable and private housing was being ignored in his area.

“This agreement is currently being implemented for council owned sites including the Laurence Lands, Santry,” he added. “However, in working class areas of the city like Finglas this standard is being ignored.

“I am furious that one standard is being applied for some areas of the city while Finglas and other working class areas are being landed with large 100 per cent social housing developments including, but not limited to, the modular housing on St Helena’s Drive (50 units) and the proposed PPP development in Scribblestown (70 units).”

Earlier this month, the council’s Northwest Area Committee backed a motion from Cllr Costello calling on Minister Coveney and DCC to reconsider the development at Scribblestown.

“We have many sites in Finglas that can be developed on a mixed tenure basis enabling the minister to achieve his social housing goal without concentrating it in any one area,” Cllr Costello’s motion states.

“This committee are willing to work with the minister to help him find another way forward through using public ho