Dún Laoghaire's shameful housing record

To highlight Dún Laoghaire/ Rathdown County Council's shameful record for providing social housing, Dún Laoghaire Sinn Féin picketed this month's council meeting. Local Sinn Féin activists picketed the Council offices on Monday 9 October.

South Dublin Sinn Féin representative Shaun Tracey said: "From 2002 to 2005 the overall housing need in the Dún Laoghaire Rathdown Council area rose by 13%. At the moment 3,519 families are waiting to be housed by the council.

"Dún Laoghaire/Rathdown Council and the government are failing to keep their promises on housing. The council has received nearly €3.5million from developers buying their way out of their obligations to provide 20% social or affordable housing in all housing developments under Part V of the Planning and Development Act. This is more than any other council in the state.

"Meanwhile the social housing waiting list continues to grow. The dilution of Part V of the Planning and Development Act to allow developers to buy their way out of their obligations to provide social housing must be reversed. Dún Laoghaire/Rathdown is one of the worst examples of where this practice has been exploited to the full. Three and a half-million euros accepted in buy-outs and three and a half thousand families on the waiting list is a despicable record and this council should hang its head in shame.

"Our Sinn Féin colleagues in Leinster House will bring forward amending legislation during this Dáil term which will give other parties an opportunity to reverse the dilution of Part V of the Planning and Development Act. We would encourage all parties to support this amending legislation."

Sinn Féin is demanding:

Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000 be restored to its original status prior to its dilution by the Fianna Fáil/PD Government in 2002 to ensure that at least 20% of all housing developments are provided for social and affordable housing.

• Compulsory Purchase Orders be made on land being held by greedy speculators and provided for social housing.
• Proper resourcing and strengthening of Private Residents Tenancy Board.
• Quality of social housing be improved and stock renewed.
• Provision be made for adequate infrastructure and amenities in all new housing developments.
• Idle land be re-zoned for social housing.
• All public land that becomes available, such as the land at Shanganagh Castle in Shankill, be made available for social housing and public amenities.