Sinn Féin Senator Fintan Warfield has welcomed the decision by Dublin City Council Planning Department to refuse permission for a large seven-storey, 62-unit co-living development in Kilmainham.

Senator Warfield submitted an objection in January, citing how unsuitable this development was to Kilmainham and that it would have little positive impact on the housing crisis.

Speaking today, Senator Warfield said:

“Co-living is no solution to Dublin’s housing crisis. It lowers housing standards and increases the price of land. It was never the solution to lack of affordable and suitable accommodation in Kilmainham and surrounding areas.

“This should serve as a wake-up call that there are no quick-fix, low quality solutions to genuine housing need in the area.

“Co-living developments are profit-driven investments, which treat renters as commodities. I look forward to working with all agencies on more sensible, suitable and affordable housing plans in the coming months.

“It concerned me that this co-living proposal was submitted at a time the Minister for Housing had already announced plans to ban co-living.

“I am aware that there are other planning applications for co-living awaiting decision and I hope that permission for those will also be refused.”