4 March 1999 Edition
Co-op effort to help tackle Dublin's housing problem
BY TARA O'LIATH.
As the housing crisis continues in Dublin, Sinn Féin representative for the South East Inner City Daithí Doolin has welcomed an innovative effort to help alleviate the problem. The National Association of Building Cooperatives (NABCO), has built another batch of rental co-ops in the city. This time Townsend Street was the area targeted.
The site on which the one and two-bedroomed flats were built was bought by the SITPU trade union and given to NABCO.
``The idea of trade unions and co-op schemes working together for the good of communities is something which should continue and which is an example to the government and the Corporation''.
NABCO feels that in the future, and with the new Docklands Development under way, that there is a role for them in the building of affordable housing for those with limited income.
The newest co-op development consists of 16 units, with people from the Corporation list with priority points, transfers, and local people considered first.
NABCO already have eight units in the inner city and 20 in the overall Dublin area and the scheme cost the best part of a million pounds to build.While this is a non-profit making programme, tennants rents, which are subsidised according to income, are used to meet loan repayments.
For co-op tenants it's not just a case of having a house to live in, it's a network with a committee and being willing to share in the up-keep of the management of the buildings.
NABCO believes it's of vital importance to cater for existing residents in the city and co-op housing provides options for inner city communities so that there is a balance between private developments and affordable housing.
Daithí Doolin said the NABCO initiative would go a small way to help alleviate the housing problem in the South East Inner City but much more needed to be done by those who had responsibility. Sinn Fein has pledged to continue its campaign on the housing crisis in Dublin and the party has put forward detailed proposals to tackle the problem.
As the housing crisis continues in Dublin, Sinn Féin representative for the South East Inner City Daithí Doolin has welcomed an innovative effort to help alleviate the problem. The National Association of Building Cooperatives (NABCO), has built another batch of rental co-ops in the city. This time Townsend Street was the area targeted.
The site on which the one and two-bedroomed flats were built was bought by the SITPU trade union and given to NABCO.
``The idea of trade unions and co-op schemes working together for the good of communities is something which should continue and which is an example to the government and the Corporation''.
NABCO feels that in the future, and with the new Docklands Development under way, that there is a role for them in the building of affordable housing for those with limited income.
The newest co-op development consists of 16 units, with people from the Corporation list with priority points, transfers, and local people considered first.
NABCO already have eight units in the inner city and 20 in the overall Dublin area and the scheme cost the best part of a million pounds to build.While this is a non-profit making programme, tennants rents, which are subsidised according to income, are used to meet loan repayments.
For co-op tenants it's not just a case of having a house to live in, it's a network with a committee and being willing to share in the up-keep of the management of the buildings.
NABCO believes it's of vital importance to cater for existing residents in the city and co-op housing provides options for inner city communities so that there is a balance between private developments and affordable housing.
Daithí Doolin said the NABCO initiative would go a small way to help alleviate the housing problem in the South East Inner City but much more needed to be done by those who had responsibility. Sinn Fein has pledged to continue its campaign on the housing crisis in Dublin and the party has put forward detailed proposals to tackle the problem.