More than 250 new local authority homes for Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown but councillors at odds over parking
Thirty-five of the units are to be allocated for cost-rental, with the bulk of the remainder affordable purchase homes, with a small social housing contingent.
There are to be 65 car parking spaces, including 12 for electric vehicles, with the scheme, and 180 bike storage spaces.
Several councillors at the monthly council meeting raised issues with the parking specifications of the scheme, saying it would discourage owners from seeing the units as their 'forever home'.
Councillor Michael Clark said that while he welcomed the scheme overall, the Fianna Fáil member was disappointed by the parking provision.
"Sixty-five car spaces for 129 units, 186 beds and a suggested population in your own documentation of 277 people is just too few,' he told council officials.
'People will not consider these units as their forever home if they are unable to store a car there for the days they don't walk, for the days they can't cycle, for the days that public transport options aren't appropriate or available,' he said.
Green Party councillor Oisín O'Connor said that he supported the scheme and the parking allowance, adding that the units may not fall within affordable purchase guidelines if more spaces were provided.
"I believe that is an issue that has been raised by management in the past,' said Mr O'Connor. 'If they were to add more parking spaces, they simply wouldn't be able to build these developments'.
The second housing development is the provision of another 129 homes at Blackglen Road, Sandyford, at the foot of the Dublin Mountains. It is being developed by the council itself, while Mount St Mary's is being developed for the council by Winterbrook.
ADVERTISEMENT
Overall, the 129 units are split between 95 apartments and 34 houses across seven blocks, divided into 72 social housing units, 32 cost-rental units and 24 affordable purchase houses.
Apartments on site will be a mix of 34 one-bedroom units, 39 two-bedroom and 21 one-and-a-half-bedroom dwellings, which are designated 'age-friendly' units.
Houses will be a mix of two-bedroom (21 units), three-bedroom (11 units) and two four-bedroom houses.
A significant element of the scheme is the accommodation of existing badger setts on the site, with a 50-metre buffer zone provided along the northern edge of the site beside Fitzsimons Wood.
A total of 138 on-street car parking spaces and 168 bike spaces will be provided for the development.
The two housing schemes are proposed by DLR County Council under Part 8 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001.
Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Independent
17 hours ago
- Irish Independent
Wexford's housing crisis ‘never going to end' as three-unit project continues to await funding approval
The lack of progress on a three-unit housing project in Wexford has led one local councillor to question whether the county's housing crisis is ever going to end. The project, which will see three social houses delivered for Adamstown, received approval in March of last year but has yet to progress further in that time. 'That site is sitting there for the last four years,' said Councillor Pat Barden at the July meeting of the New Ross Municipal District (NRMD). 'The preliminary design team has been appointed. It's no wonder there's a housing crisis in Wexford and all around the country. If central government is looking to Wexford County Council to build houses and we can't even do a simple little project in Adamstown then this housing crisis is never going to end. "It's an absolute disaster, something radical needs to be done.' Housing officer Martina Donohue said she would consult the council's construction team for further information but confirmed that a funding application was due to be submitted in Q3 of this year. The three units are to consist of a two-storey, three-bedroom semi-detached dwelling, a two-bedroom apartment, and a one-bedroom apartment. Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.
Irish Times
2 days ago
- Irish Times
Dropping cost-of-living measures is key pre-budget minefield for Government to navigate
What happens when the once-off cost-of-living measures people have become accustomed to over a series of giveaway budgets suddenly stop, as is expected this year? The Government has already got a taste of the anger that can ensue. After Minister for Higher Education James Lawless signalled that €1,000 cuts to third-level student fees seen in recent years may not be repeated on budget day there was a backlash. It caused not just a political storm, but also led to a flood of written complaints from parents and others to the Fianna Fáil minister in the days after his remarks during a radio interview at the end of June. Here's a flavour of the reaction: A mother of two students wrote that she was 'absolutely appalled' at the possibility the fees would revert to €3,000, saying that was 'massive to the squeezed middle'. She added: 'Why are ye crucifying us? Why?' READ MORE 'A national disgrace' thundered another parent. 'Six votes in my house will be going elsewhere [in] the next election if it is not overturned.' [ Student fees: Minister gets barrage of complaints after suggesting €1,000 cut may not happen Opens in new window ] There were many more in a similar vein. While a spokesman for Lawless stressed he is 'acutely aware of the financial pressures facing students and families' and will be 'fighting hard' for budget measures that reduce the cost of education, it remains to be seen what these measures will be come budget day in October. In one sense it should be no surprise that the once-off measures – brought in as part of recent budgets to respond to rampant inflation and a cost-of-living crisis – are to end; it was flagged by sources within the Government less than two weeks after its formation at the start of the year. Throughout the year senior Coalition figures stated publicly there would be no once-off measures amid the need to reign in spending in the face of huge economic uncertainty over US tariffs on EU (including Irish) goods. In late July in the summer economic statement an overall package of €9.4 billion was announced as being available for spending increases (€7.9 billion) and tax cuts (€1.5 billion) in the budget. Will the Government's big projects survive the next downturn? Listen | 36:20 There has been no talk since by those who control the purse-strings in Government of topping this up with billions in once-off measures as previously happened. But 'once-off' is also a complete misnomer as many of the payments were repeated in some form over three budgets. And getting rid of them in one fell swoop is fraught with political risk. The pre-election budget last year featured a €2.2 billion cost-of-living package including two €125 electricity credits and multiple double welfare payments and lump sums. These included extra payments of the fuel allowance, disability allowance and working family payments. For parents there were two double child benefit payments at the end of 2024 and other measures included reductions in school transport fees and State exam fee waivers. If such measures must be dropped, it makes sense politically to do this at the start of a government's term with an election expected to be years away. However, doing so also has the potential to create divisions within the Coalition, as happened with the student fees controversy of recent weeks. More importantly though, there is the anger that scrapping once-off payments may well spark among the public. Meanwhile, with many costs, such as food and energy, still high the Government can be sure Opposition parties will seek to exploit any public dissatisfaction after budget day. Sinn Féin has already made demands for a cost-of-living package a running theme in public statements over the summer. It appears the Government is not for Finance Paschal Donohoe was asked about people in arrears with electricity bills during a visit to Clonmel, Co Tipperary, this week. He said such issues will be considered as the budget approaches. But he also reiterated: 'We will not be bringing forward the kind of one-off measures that we've had in the past.' [ Paschal Donohoe defends decision not to repeat cost-of-living payments in upcoming budget Opens in new window ] He added the Government is 'very conscious that the cost of living continues to be a challenge for so many', but said: 'We now need to ensure that measures that we bring forward, in light of the economic uncertainty that is there, are ones that we can afford and ones that will be sustainable.' He advised people having difficulty paying bills to engage with electricity suppliers on measures such as alternative payment plans. His stance appears to be at one with Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers who said last month that, rather than once-off payments, Budget 2026 would be about decisions on 'permanent', 'sustainable' and targeted measures that 'protect the most vulnerable'. Chambers indicated that the social protection system will still be used to help the least well-off in the budget. Indeed it would be highly surprising if increases in the State pension and other welfare payments – as in recent years – do not feature in the upcoming budget even in the absence of once-off measures. On the tax side, scope for income-tax cuts is likely to be limited by proposals to bring in VAT reductions for the hospitality industry at some point next year. Dropping once-off measures – and what will be done to ease their loss in people's pockets – is the key political minefield the Government must navigate as budget preparations ramp up from the end of August. Lower-income households will have to be protected but ministers will also have to remember – as the student fees controversy showed – that hell hath no fury like a voter scorned.
Irish Examiner
3 days ago
- Irish Examiner
Mairead McGuiness' withdrawal leaves only one clear candidate for presidential election
The withdrawal of Mairead McGuinness from the presidential election leaves what had been an unclear picture even foggier. With just ten or eleven weeks to go, there is just one candidate left in the race who has the requisite support from the Oireachtas to be on the ballot. No councils have, as yet, shown a willingness to back candidates. Catherine Connolly has secured the backing of Labour, the Social Democrats, People Before Profit, and a range of other independent politicians and at her campaign launch late last month said that she is 'ready' to be president of Ireland as 'part of a movement'. It is unlikely that Ms Connolly will be alone in the field for long as Fine Gael gets set to convene its Executive Committee. Fine Gael In the wake of Ms McGuinness's withdrawal, speculation focused on a quartet of names; former ministers Heather Humphreys, Frances Fitzgerald, and Simon Coveney, and sitting MEP Sean Kelly. While her former ministerial colleagues have kept their counsel, the former justice minister ruled herself out. On Friday afternoon, Ms Fitzgerald confirmed to the Irish Examiner that she would not seek the nomination, having declined to do so earlier this year. She had said in April that she discussed the possibility with Fine Gael leader Simon Harris and had been approached by 'many people', but would not be entering the race. She has since joined the consultancy firm Teneo. Mr Coveney joined EY as a consultant in April, but has been suggested by some in Fine Gael as a potential candidate. Mr Coveney previously served as a minister in a number of briefs — including foreign affairs, agriculture, and enterprise. However, he called time on a political career that spanned four decades after opting not to contest last year's election. Ireland South MEP Mr Kelly, who was elected with a massive 127,000 votes last June, opted not to contest the Fine Gael nomination race, leaving the way clear for former European commissioner Ms McGuinness. However, he is believed to be reconsidering his position in light of Ms McGuinness's withdrawal and sources believe he will run for the party's nomination, having been interested earlier this summer. Former minister Heather Humphreys has emerged as the favourite within the party. Picture: Gareth Chaney Ms Humphreys, the former social protection minister, has emerged as the favourite within the party, though some have questioned whether she would change her mind given her reasons for leaving politics. Ms Humphreys opted not to contest the last election, having been elected in 2011 and serving as a minister in a number of departments. She was seen within Fine Gael as someone who might contend this year's election, but speaking to the Joe Finnegan Show on Northern Sound in May, Ms Humphreys said that while she had given the idea some thought, she was committed to spending more time with her family. Fianna Fáil Within Fianna Fáil, some members of the parliamentary party believe that their candidate will not emerge until the middle of September, with Taoiseach Micheál Martin recently unequivocally ruling himself out. The party's issue is that it does not have an obvious candidate. Former taoiseach Bertie Ahern has long been linked with a run, but has appeared cool on the idea at times. Former minister Mary Hanafin was vocal last month that the party should run a candidate before writing to members asking that she be put forward. That idea was rejected by many TDs. University of Ulster professor Deirdre Heenan has been reported as being in talks with the party, while former footballer Niall Quinn is another name that has been suggested. Sinn Féin Party president Mary Lou McDonald kicked off huge speculation by not ruling out a bid for the Áras in July, but it is expected that a final decision from the party will be made in the next two weeks. Some believe using Ms McDonald as a presidential candidate would be "a waste", while others believe the party should row in behind Ms Connolly as a show of left-wing solidarity. Independents Last week, pharma entrepreneur Gareth Sheridan announced he was entering the race. Largely unknown, the 35-year-old has said that he has enough support to have his nomination brought to at least four councils. Another businessman, Nick Delehanty, also 35, ran in local and general elections in Dublin under the tagline 'make crime illegal' and has said he is seeking the nomination. He told the Irish Examiner he has the same number. Former MMA fighter Conor McGregor last week set up a petition seeking people to express their wish for him to be on the ballot paper. Picture: Brian Lawless/PA Lord of the Dance star Michael Flatley last month told a court that he 'intends to seek nominations to run for President", but said this week that he will make his intentions clearer soon. Former MMA fighter Conor McGregor last week set up a petition seeking people to express their wish for him to be on the ballot paper. The Sunday Times reported that Mr McGregor is considered a legal challenge to the eligibility rules, though it is not clear upon which grounds the challenge would be based.
