Minister for Housing has questions to answer over Poolbeg SDZ social housing appeal

The Green Party said today that former Minister for Housing Simon Coveney has questions to answer over the Poolbeg SDZ, following reports today that the receivers of the Glass Bottle Site are attempting to reduce the level of social and affordable housing previously agreed for development at the site. The Party said that the current Minister, Eoghan Murphy, must clarify the previous agreement, and restate commitments made by the Government on social and affordable housing levels at the site.
 
Speaking today, Green Party Councillor Patrick Costello said: “When the Poolbeg SDZ was being debated and voted on in Dublin City Council, many Councillors, including myself, pushed for higher levels of social and affordable housing. We were told that the figure of 900 units was the best we could get and that this had been agreed through Minister Simon Coveney with the receiver. The receiver are now reneging on this agreement, and want to remove these 900 units from the scheme. The question has to be asked – are they reneging on a deal they previously made or was there ever a deal at all? Minister Simon Coveney needs to answer this question, and the Department of Housing must clarify the details.”
 
Councillor Claire Byrne commented: “The real losers here are the people looking for social and affordable homes in Ringsend. Once again the Government is failing to provide much needed housing. It’s hardly surprising that homeless numbers keep climbing.”
 
Green Party Leader and TD for Dublin Bay South, Eamon Ryan said: “The Government have shown no willingness or ability to tackle this issue. We have pushed creative plans for cost rental housing on State land but this Government has shown it cannot think in new ways. This latest development in the Poolbeg SDZ saga is another example of how the Government’s reliance on the private market to provide social and affordable housing is utterly failing.”