Sinn Féin spokesperson on Housing Eoin Ó Broin TD has commented on the Land Development Agency’s plans for the delivery of more than 1,200 homes on the Central Mental Hospital site in Dundrum, Dublin.

Deputy Ó Broin said:

“The LDA has published an update on its housing plans for the Central Mental Hospital site in Dundrum, Dublin.

“The Agency estimates that the site can deliver over 1,200 new homes with their press release emphasising the delivery of affordable homes.

“This is a valuable State-owned site and it is my view that the site must be used to meet social and affordable cost-rental and affordable purchase need.

“Affordable rental affordable purchase homes must actually be affordable, with affordable rental from €900 per month and affordable purchase available from €250,000.

“I have written to the CEO of the LDA this morning asking for more information on the proposed tenure mix of the site in terms of social, cost rental, affordable purchase and open market sale.

“I have also asked if the LDA has established price points for any cost rental or affordable sale units.

“This is important, as we all known from the controversially surrounding the proposed ‘affordable’ purchase cost for homes on the redeveloped O’Devaney Gardens site – which were priced beyond the reach of households in need of affordable housing.

“I also restated my view that the open market sale of these houses is not a good use of such a strategic site and will not deliver homes that most people can afford – a need which is currently going unmet by private market operators.

“This is a State owned site and it should be utilised to deliver public housing that is accessible and affordable.”