Dublin South East Sinn Féin -- Building an Ireland of Equals

Special Council Meeting on Sale of Council Flats

Published: 2 February, 2004

Sinn Féin's Daithí Doolan, having insured that the issue of the sale of Dublin's City Council flats was raised with the City Manager at tonight's meeting, spoke from City Hall,

"The issue will be raised at a special housing meeting on the 23rd of February. Sinn Féin views with deep concern Assistant City Manager Brendan Kenny's recent comments that City Council intends selling off their flats. It is wholly unacceptable that the management stated the property was to be sold and then attempted to consult after the fact. People have genuine concerns. These include who will be buying the 30,000 units, how will they be sold and what protection will be given to current tenants.

We will ensure that in any sale of Council property the needs of the tenants and those languishing on housing waiting lists are the centre of any process. Those waiting lists are increasing every day and as they increase the housing crisis escalates. We need to avoid any short-term solution such as selling off Council property, which does not address the ongoing housing crisis.

As a City Council tenant myself, it worries me that the Assistant City Manager thinks that he can decide policy without any consultation with Councillors or indeed with the tenants themselves. I will continue to raise this issue and to seek clarification from City Management. There has been no discussion or debate on the issue. This is being dealt with in a most unsatisfactory and unprofessional manner.

Doolan concluded by calling on the City Manager John Fitzgerald "To clarify the City Council's position on the sale of City Council flats. We need the special housing meeting on the 23rd of February to be the beginning of an open and proper debate. The sale of Council property is a major project and it must not happen without consultation with the Council, the tenants and indeed those most in need of housing."