The Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy is being urged to fast-track funding for the development of social and affordable homes in Poolbeg West in Dublin.
A 3,500 unit housing development has been been given the green light by An Bord Pleanala approved a 3,500 unit development in the area
875 of the homes in the east of the city are to be provided for social and affordable housing.
Senator Kevin Humphries has welcomed the social and affordable housing element of the decision.
"The local community has been working very hard to ensure that there will be social and affordable housing on it and the community has campaigned over the last five years to ensure that people living in the area would have an opportunity to stay in the area.
"I think it's very encouraging, An Bord Pleanala's decision, where they have consolidated the social and affordable housing into the planning scheme."
The deal agreed by my Department for 900 social & affordable homes on the Irish Glass Bottle Site in Ringsend has been approved by @anbordpleanala - far beyond the 10% minimum.
Very welcome news.
— Eoghan Murphy (@MurphyEoghan) April 11, 2019
Sinn Féin Housing spokesperson Eoin Ó Broin has welcomed the news.
"Today’s decision by An Bord Pleanala that 25% of the Poolbeg Strategic Development Zone must be for social and affordable housing is welcome.
"After years of hard campaigning the Glass Bottle Site Action Group and the wider community in Ringsend have ensured that a greater volume of social and affordable housing must be delivered on this site.
"While the original wording of the SDZ plan as agreed by Dublin City Council was stronger than the change recommended by an Board Pleanala, their insistence of a 25% social and affordable requirement is still a real victory for the local community. This will ensure that 875 social and affordable homes will be delivered.
"Now that the planning process is complete, the ball is firmly in Minister Eoghan Murphy’s court.
"It is he and his Department that can ensure the affordable units are delivered at genuinely affordable price.
"He must not allow the commercial caveats contained in An Bord Pleanala’s amendment to be used by the Receiver to avoid the 25% requirement.
"The Minister must now sit down with Dublin City Council and the local community to explain exactly how these much needs homes will be delivered at prices that modest income families can afford."
