Apartment size reductions offer ‘small, dark' and ‘sad vision' for Dublin, councillors say
Councillors are seeking an 'urgent meeting' with Minister for Housing
James Browne
to discuss the proposed changes which would allow
developers to build smaller apartments, with fewer windows,
and without communal spaces.
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Smaller apartments, fewer windows and lifts: What are the planned changes to housing rules?
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A specific provision in the Dublin City Development Plan, which requires developers of large-scale housing – schemes 10,000sq m or larger – to include a minimum of 5 per cent community or cultural space, is also expected to be vetoed by the Minister.
Ahead of the Cabinet meeting, city councillors, including Lord Mayor Ray McAdam (FG), on Monday night agreed an emergency motion expressing 'grave concern at central Government overreach' and its 'undermining of local democracy and its efforts to undermine the principle of sustainable community development'.
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The change is expected to have 'huge implications for the city council' councillors said, but was going to Cabinet 'without any consultation or engagement with local authorities.'
These changes represented a 'developer-led race to the bottom and further reduction in minimum standards and guidelines when it comes to apartment developments,' their motion said.
The current minimum floor area for a studio is 37sq m, 45sq m for a one-bed apartment, 63sq m for a two-bed, and 90sq m for a three-bed apartment. It is understood that under the proposals the minimum size of a studio will be reduced to 32sq m, while a new standard for a three-bedroom apartment of 76sq m will be introduced. The other sizes will not change, but there will be no restriction on the number of smaller apartments in any development, and cultural and communal spaces will not be required.
Green Party spokeswoman on arts and culture Donna Cooney said the proposals would 'undermine years of careful, considerate, sustainable planning for quality liveable housing and a vibrant cultural Dublin city'.
Cllr Cooney said Mr Browne 'paints a sad vision for our city if these regressive measures are adopted by Cabinet. Our capital city could become a cultural wasteland with single people surviving in small dark studio apartments, in blocks with less private space, fewer couples, or family apartments and no community or cultural space to reduce developer's costs. What a sad vision for our city'.
Labour Party councillor, Darragh Moriarty, in a statement said the measures represented a 'blatant attack' on the principle of building sustainable communities.
'Not alone are Government intent on further reducing the size and quality of the homes that the people of Dublin so desperately need, they are also hell-bent on giving in to developer pressure and gutting hard-won community and cultural space requirements in larger developments. Dublin City Council, the country's largest local authority, had no prior warning of these new guidelines, has not been consulted or had any opportunity to offer input.'
Sinn Féin's Micheál MacDonncha said the Minister and the Government was 'yet again riding roughshod not only over the development plan but the experience of councillors and officials' who deal with housing and planning issues. It 'shows this Government's contempt for the reality on the ground'.
Green Party councillor Claire Byrne said it was 'galling' the Minister would blame the housing crisis on the council's provision for cultural space. He was acquiescing to the developer lobby in an example of 'grubby politics'.
Independent councillor Cieran Perry said the 'blatant pandering to the building industry was absolutely shocking'.
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Irish Times
3 hours ago
- Irish Times
Letters to the Editor, July 10th: On smaller apartments, the cost of crying and blackberries
Sir, –While I applaud the Minister for Housing's hope that apartment prices will 'likely' fall by €50,000-€100,000 in 'some' cases due to the newly allowed reduction in apartment sizes, the reality is that new lower limits will only allow developers to make more money fitting more apartments per floor into the same footprint of building. If the initiative is required due to current size limits preventing projects from proceeding on project viability grounds, pricing should not actually drop at all. Either previously unviable projects will now go ahead, or unit prices will drop, but you certainly won't get both The Minister should note that once out, this genie will be impossible to put back in the bottle, and he has just set the standard for future housing stock in Ireland and how we will live for decades to come. READ MORE I think 67m2 for a two-bedroom apartment is tiny. You will have nowhere to put a pram, a couple of suitcases, (critical these days) have a desk to work from home on or let alone perhaps have something like a piano. And this way of living will now become the norm. My favourite bit is that the Government seems not to have undertaken any research on the degree to which these size limits have worked overseas. Yes, I understand the pressures the Government is under to improve the supply of housing, but I believe this move will benefit the developers at the expense of how future generations will have to live. – Yours, etc, NEIL POWER, Sydney, Australia. Sir, – The new apartment design guidelines and the existing urban design guidelines for apartment heights barely mention fire safety. The new guidelines expressly provide that the number of lift and stair cores should be 'balanced' by reference to the cost of providing them and the need to comply with building regulations. The 2022 legislation in the UK, introduced following the deaths of 72 people in the Grenfell disaster, radically changed the regulation of the design, construction and occupation of buildings, particularly high-rise and apartment buildings. For example, a second staircase will be required in high-rise residential buildings from 2026, and safety in high-rise residential buildings will be actively promoted and enforced by extensive legal requirements. This followed a root and branch review in the UK of building regulations and building control, which were found to be not fit for purpose after the Grenfell fire. In Ireland, no such review has been carried out despite the similarities between Irish and UK law. It is not clear how building regulations requirements have been considered in the preparation of the new guidelines, which prompts the question: is the Government now prioritising 'viability' over a visible commitment to safer buildings, and ignoring lessons from elsewhere? DR DEIRDRE NÍ FHLOINN, Goatstown, Dublin 14. Sir, – Our Minister for Housing 'takes decisive action' to deal with the housing crisis (which has been developing on Fine Gael/Fianna Fáil's watch for decades). He plans to cut design standards to shrink apartments, allow fewer windows, make mono blocks of bedsits, have less ventilation, reduce community facilities and worse. He claims that this will reduce prices – of course it won't. It seems that the developers' lobby has directly written these pitiful new 'standards'. Can I suggest a radical solution to the Minister: export our young people (as they won't be able to afford anywhere to live), strip them of voting rights (as when abroad, they can't vote), and then continue to bury his head in the sand (as the demographic disaster unfolds). – Yours, etc, TOM CONROY, Rathgar, Dublin 6. Sir, – On June 27th, Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers suggested that cost should take priority over aesthetics in future State infrastructure projects. Today, Minister for Housing James Browne is proposing to reduce the minimum size of studio apartments to 32 sq m. I wonder how either of these gentlemen would react were they obliged to live in a 32sqm concrete box with only one window and limited outdoor space? Not too happily, I imagine. – Yours etc, MUIREANN HOURIHANE, Sandymount, Dublin. Sir, – In a recent column Senator Michael McDowell yet again decries the 16-year-old decision by the 2009 government to abolish bedsits. (' Folly of abolishing bedsits only to promote co-living is now becoming clear ,' July 2nd). He claims 'as many as 15,000 bedsits disappeared around that time.' There does not appear to be any evidence for this assertion. Let's not be romantic about these cramped, often damp dwellings of the past. A bedsit usually took the form of a small one-room flat in a large, converted property with shared sanitary – and sometimes shared cooking – facilities in another part of the residence. They were often of a poor standard, badly insulated, with questionable fire safety and with limited to no living space, storage, privacy, or peace. These bedsits certainly cannot be compared to house share scenarios – as the author does – where a small group of tenants share a family kitchen, living room and bathroom in a single residential unit, with multiple rooms. It is worth remembering that the 2009 government provided a four-year lead-in period before the bedsit ban was to take effect, and it was made at a time when we had an oversupply of private rental housing and decreasing rents. While some landlords did not take this time to upgrade their properties to meet the required standards, there was a sufficient supply of rental housing for 'bedsit' tenants to relocate to at the time. The key reason for the change was to improve living conditions for tenants. It is also worth noting that the government in which Senator McDowell served as a minister, between 2002 and 2007, when the economy was booming, failed to increase social housing supply in any significant way, eking out an average of about 6,400 units a year. This is despite the recommendation by the National Economic and Social Council, at the time, that the State deliver over 9,000 units a year between 2005 and 2012. This was within the then government's gift, until at least 2007, but they chose not to pursue this recommendation. A greater folly. Not only this, but the then government also oversaw the sale of approximately 1,400 council houses each year under the tenant purchase scheme, effectively reducing State availability of social housing to a mere 5,000 units a year, a little over half of what was required. The folly of failing to invest in social housing at the time when Senator McDowell was in government casts a much greater shadow over Ireland's current dire housing situation than the decision to remove substandard housing from the market. – Yours, etc, JOHN-MARK MCCAFFERTY, Chief executive, Threshold, Dublin. Is this a record? Sir, – On July 5th, I picked seven fully ripe wild blackberries. Is this a record? – Yours, etc, TIM BRACKEN. Cork. Teacher shortages Sir, – Yet again, the teacher supply crisis makes headlines in your newspaper (' Teaching 'supply crisis' leaves 1,847 posts unfilled, ', July 7th). This issue has persisted for well over a decade. As far back as 2012, an international review panel noted it was 'surprised and concerned that the issue of teacher supply and demand has not been addressed in Ireland as it has been elsewhere '...one impact of the absence of reliable data on both supply and demand for teachers has been the increasing reliance on 'out-of-field' teachers at post-primary level.' How long must the public wait for the Government to acknowledge the catastrophic impact of the teacher supply crisis and to take meaningful action to address it? – Yours, etc, DR BRIAN FLEMING, PROF JUDITH HARFORD, School of Education, UCD, Dublin. The presidency Sir, – I thought I should let your readers know that I will also not be seeking a nomination to run for the presidency. – Yours, etc, PETER GAUGHAN, Monkstown, Co Dublin. The cost of crying Sir, – Rachel Reeves crying in the House of Commons cost me €54. Kathy Sheridan's piece about politicians crying in public and how the markets react negatively, whilst voters are generally supportive or indifferent to a crying politician (' The state of the world calls for more weeping, not less ', July 9th), resonates with me. Sterling fell dramatically after Ms Reeves's Commons appearance. As a permanent resident in the Republic, my British company pension is the same sterling amount each month but what I actually receive in euros varies according to the whims of the currency markets. Ms Reeves spooked them and I suffered. If Ms Reeves could contrive to make a robust Commons appearance just before my next pension payment I would be delighted. – Yours, etc, KENNETH HARPER, Co Donegal. Injecting some sense into Botox Sir, – Can we bring a little common sense to the 'Botox' discussion (Letters, July 8th)? The 'median lethal dose' of toxin Brian O'Brien refers to (1x nanogram/kg) would require the injection of over 200 (1 treatment) vials of Botox for a female of average weight. Precisely why I choose a nurse to administer my Botox! Nurses inject daily, more than any other healthcare professional. A small syringe of morphine incorrectly drawn up, would be more likely to cause death than 200 vials of Botox. – – Yours, etc, Ciarán Farrell, Rathfarnham, Dublin 16. Anti-Semitism arguments Sir, – Some of your recent correspondents (Letters, July 9th) appear to have missed the core argument of Fintan O'Toole's article on Ireland's history of opposing anti-Semitism. (' Ireland has a proud history of opposing anti-Semitism ,' July 8th) The piece was not a denial that anti-Semitism exists in Ireland, but rather a powerful reminder that Irish solidarity with Jewish people has historically been grounded in a belief in universal rights and opposition to all forms of oppression. That tradition, as O'Toole made clear through the examples of Daniel O'Connell and Michael Davitt, does not pit opposition to oppression of Jewish people against concern for Palestinians. It is rooted in the understanding that justice is indivisible and that the suffering of one people does not justify the silencing of another. Protesting about the suffering of people in Gaza is not evidence of anti-Semitism. On the contrary, it is a continuation of the same ethical tradition that once compelled Irish figures to speak out against pogroms in Tsarist Russia. It is also unfortunate that The Irish Times saw fit to place other letters criticising the Israeli prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu and US foreign policy under the heading 'Anti-Semitism and Ireland.' Such framing reinforces the very conflation the article sought to challenge: the idea that criticism of Israel, no matter how grounded in human rights concerns, must somehow be suspect. – Yours, etc, SÉAMUS WHITE, Stoneybatter, Dublin. Sir, – James Wilson points out in his critique of Fintan O'Toole's article that last year a man was 'allegedly' set upon by anti-Semitic thugs because he was of the Jewish faith. This same level of allegation has been used repeatedly by the Israeli army to bomb hospitals, refugee camps, apartment buildings and more, because they were 'allegedly' being used by Hamas. I would like to take this opportunity to point out to Mr Wilson, and all the other correspondents who have attacked us Irish as anti-Semitic, that we really don't care what religion you may or may not subscribe to, but we are very much opposed to the killing of 57,000-plus Palestinians, regardless of what allegations are made. – Yours, etc, Dómhnaill Banks, Rathgar, Dublin 6. Sir, – Could anyone please furnish an instance where anyone has criticised Israel without being accused of being anti-Semitic? – Yours, etc, JOHN CRONIN, Terenure, Dublin 6W. Galway film fleadh and An Gaeilge Sir, – There is a revival of sorts in recent years in the Irish language which is very welcome. We have seen the success of films like An Cailín Ciúin which can stand on their own irrespective of what language is used in the film. This year the Galway Film Fleadh, now under way, is showing 11 films as Gaeilge, double last year's number. This points to a very healthy state of Irish language productions. The band Kneecap is popularising An Ghaeilge especially with young people. This is a far cry from the attitude of my fellow classmates to the language when we studied Peig nearly 50 years ago in secondary school. This year for the first time the Galway International Arts Festival have Gaeilge ambassadors volunteering at events to encourage people to use their cúpla focal irrespective of their fluency in the language. There will be a pop up Gaeltacht each day in the festival garden in Eyre Square between 1pm and 2pm. The use of An Ghaeilge is becoming more mainstream. It may be small steps,but people's attitudes to the language are changing. We have a long way to go before we experience the kind of revival that the Welsh language has undergone in Wales but as the seanfhocal says 'De réin a chéile a thógtar na caisleáin'. – Yours, etc, TOMMY RODDY, Galway. Praise the Lord Sir, –The Irish Times wouldn't be the same without the Dáil Sketch by Miriam Lord. Her light-hearted reporting on the sometimes dull proceedings in the Dáil is always a pleasure to read. She is a treasure and a lady as well as a Lord. – Yours, etc, TONY CORCORAN, Rathfarnham, Dublin 14. Climate change? Sir, – I note that a regular contributor to this letters page, (name supplied) has migrated to the Irish Independent letters page this morning. Is this an effect of climate change? – Yours, etc, BEN Mc CABE, Ranelagh, Dublin 6.
Irish Times
5 hours ago
- Irish Times
Trinity student contribution fee ‘the same' as last year despite €3,000 invoice controversy
Trinity College Dublin (TCD) has said its billing process for the coming academic year is 'the same' as last year, following controversy surrounding invoices charging €3,000 in student contribution fees. Third-level fees have been reduced to €2,000 as 'once-off' cost-of-living measures for the past three years. However, Minister for Higher Education James Lawless signalled late last month that the €1,000 reduction to fees would no longer apply after a Government decision that there would be no cost-of-living package in Budget 2026. The comment sparked backlash among students, unions and Opposition parties, particularly following a commitment in the programme for government to reduce the student contribution over its lifetime. READ MORE After TCD began to invoice students for the upcoming academic year, charging a student contribution of €3,000, several Opposition TDs, including Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald, expressed dismay on Wednesday. The invoice, seen by The Irish Times, also includes a charge of €209.75 for 'student levies and charges.' The invoice also states: 'Pay in one instalment.' Ms McDonald said on X: 'We're already seeing the result of Minister James Lawless' announcement that college fees will be hiked-up by €1,000,' adding that it will 'heap additional stress and pressure' on to students and their families. Ms McDonald called on the Government to 'sort it out fast.' 'Students and their parents need to be told clearly they won't be hit with this unfair hike,' she said. Social Democrats TD Jennifer Cummins said she was 'shocked' that TCD had billed students €3,000, saying, 'it's not good enough to put students and their families under this kind of pressure when the promise was a reduction in fees'. However, TCD spokeswoman said the billing process for the upcoming academic year is 'exactly the same as it was last year and the previous year'. In previous years, the university has billed €3,000 for student contribution fees as invoices were issued pre-budget. Students who have paid €3,000 in full before budget announcements in the past have been refunded €1,000. The spokeswoman said fees are due on September 1st as part of registration, but students are offered the option to pay in three instalments. 'The billing process in Trinity is the same this year as it was in prior years, both in terms of timing and amounts invoiced,' she said. Mr Lawless said he 'fully intends' to reduce the student contribution fee over the lifetime of the Government. He told the Dáil 'the one-off measures, while welcome, were temporary in nature. I am moving to permanent measures that will benefit families and students in the long run.'
Irish Times
6 hours ago
- Irish Times
Opposition parties likely to announce own preferred presidential candidate rather than agreed one
Left-leaning parties in the Dáil are likely to nominate their own preferred candidates to stand in the presidential election rather than gather around an agreed candidate, a meeting of Opposition leaders has heard. Opposition leaders met on Wednesday evening in Leinster House to discuss their approach to the election, which is likely to take place in late October or early November. The meeting was attended by: Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald; acting Social Democrats leader Cian O'Callaghan; Labour leader Ivana Bacik; Paul Murphy from People Before Profit (PBP): and Roderic O'Gorman of the Green Party. The Social Democrats and PBP indicated they were close to the end of their internal processes. Mr Murphy is understood to have told the meeting the party would likely endorse Independent TD Catherine Connolly if she declared her interest. READ MORE The Social Democrats are also close to completing their process and, while it has not been stated it publicly, it is likelythey would also be minded to back Ms Connolly. Ms McDonald, Ms Bacik and Mr O'Gorman indicated their internal deliberations have yet to be completed and it could be late summer, or early autumn, before they declare their intentions. The leaders did discuss leading candidates, with the Independent Senator Frances Black also being mentioned. 'I would say that Catherine Connolly is the front-runner at this stage,' said a source. Ms Connolly has said she would keep an 'open mind' about running if she could 'unite the Opposition'. The source saidit was likely that individual parties would nominate their preferred candidates and that it would then be up to other Opposition parties, who have not declared, to come on board at a later stage. That happened in the 1990 election when Mary Robinson was endorsed by Labour, and later by Democratic Left. It also happened in 1997 when the Progressive Democrats announced several days after her nomination, that the party would support the Fianna Fáil candidate, Mary McAleese. A person with knowledge of the meeting said that the Sinn Féin leader 'kept her cards close to her chest' and that Ms McDonald did not give an indication of what the party's intentions would be. Mr O'Gorman also said his party was currently considering its position.
