Sir, – I note the five sites chosen by Dublin City Council for the possible provision of modular housing for the homeless: Ballymun, Crumlin, Coolock, Finglas and Ballyfermot.
I presume there is nothing available in Rathmines, Rathgar, Terenure, Clontarf or Glasnevin? – Yours, etc,
BRIAN AHERN,
Clonsilla,
Dublin 15.
Sir, – Can we take it from the published list of locations for the proposed temporary housing structures, ("Five modular housing sites for homeless families identified", October 29th), that the supremely good housing strategy requirement under Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000 encouraging "mixed and balanced communities in order to counteract undue social segregation" has been finally emasculated by this Government.
Maybe the housing section of the Department of the Environment should relocate to the car park of a well-known construction lobby group and be done with it. – Yours, etc,
JIM O’SULLIVAN,
Rathedmond,
Sligo.
Sir – This Irish version of American trailer parks that flourished in the US in the 1980s and were viewed as “temporary accommodation” will blight people’s lives for generations to come. Trailer parks, especially in American culture are stereotypically viewed as lower-income housing whose occupants live at or below the poverty line and have low social status. Minister for the Environment Alan Kelly is creating a new sub-class of people at the stroke of a pen.
The five sites identified by Dublin City Council for the location of between 150 and 153 modular houses are in predominantly disadvantaged areas of the city.
A stigma may attach to the people living there reducing employment and education opportunities, thus making it more difficult for them to advance socially and economically.
The new modular estates could become even more ghettoised than many of the housing estates we are all too familiar with throughout the country. Is this Minister Kelly’s and the Labour Party’s legacy?
The Labour Party of yesteryear advocated for the building of social housing so that communities can live in dignity and with equality of opportunity. Will the Minister please steel his spine and stop this madness before it’s too late.
– Yours, etc,
NOEL NAUGHTON
Thomondgate,
Limerick.