A plan to build more than 1,300 homes on three vacant sites in Dublin will include provision for at least 30 per cent social housing.
Dublin City Council on Monday evening approved a plan to develop social, private and a new model of "affordable rental" housing at sites the council owns at Oscar Traynor Road in Coolock, O'Devaney Gardens in Dublin 7 and St Michael's Estate in Inchicore.
The building programme, the council’s most ambitious since the regeneration of Ballymun, is to start with the largest of the three sites, a 17-hectare plot at Coolock Lane, at the Santry end of Oscar Traynor Road, just east of the entrance to the Dublin Port Tunnel.
Some 1,345 housing units will be provided across the three sites. An amendment tabled by Sinn Féin and approved by the council means at least 30 per cent of the units will be social housing.
Under the original plan, the 30 per cent target included affordable and cost rental units. The cost rental scheme, where tenants pay 20 per cent below market rent, is aimed at those on low income who do not qualify for social housing.
Sinn Féin councillor Daithí Doolan, who proposed the amendment, said the change meant about 450 homes would be built for those on the city council housing lists.
“The government continues to starve local authorities of essential funding for housing. This is Dublin City Council attempting to deliver homes despite government’s best efforts,” said Mr Doolan, who is chair of the council’s housing committee.
The change means the number of social housing units at the Oscar Traynor site will be increased from 74 to 219, while at St Michael’s Estate the figure will rise from 30 to 100. The amendment means 133 social housing units will be built at O’Devaney Gardens, compared with 100 under the original plan.