Belmayne and Clongrfiffin sites to be addressed
Published: 29 June, 2011
Sinn Féin Donaghmede Ward Councillor Mícheál Mac Donncha has given a cautious welcome to the news that the large unfinished housing developments in Clongriffin and Belmayne are to be addressed under a new Government scheme.
At the meeting of Dublin City Council's North Central Area, Councillor Mac Donncha secured unanimous support for a motion deploring "the continuing dereliction of vacant, undeveloped, dangerous
and unsightly stalled development sites at Belmayne and Clongriffin and urges renewed
efforts at central Government and City Council level to address this problem, with a particular
focus on requiring developers, NAMA and all relevant agencies to co-operate to achieve
progress".
In response the City Council management replied that the Department of Environment, Health & Local Government carried out a national survey last year which identified 2846 unfinished housing
developments, 97 of which were Iocated in Dublin City. These sites have now been categorised to produce a
shortlist of developments requiring a high level of intervention and that shortlist includes the
main unfinished housing developments within the North Fringe area.
"I welcome the fact that the Clongriffin and Belmayne sites have been included. Pressure will now need to be kept up to ensure that works under the new scheme are appropriate to meet what is required and are carried out in due time," stated Cllr. Mac Donncha.
Background:
DUBLIN CITY COUNCIL
NORTH CENTRAL AREA COMMITTEE
20th June 2011
4237.
Motion in the name of Councillor Micheál Mac Donncha
That this Committee deplores the continuing dereliction of vacant, undeveloped, dangerous
and unsightly stalled development sites at Belmayne and Clongriffin and urges renewed
efforts at central Government and City Council level to address this problem, with a particular
focus on requiring developers, NAMA and all relevant agencies to co-operate to achieve
progress.
Report:
The DoEHLG carried out a national survey last year which identified 2846 unfinished housing
developments in Ireland. 97 of which were Iocated in Dublin City. As per the Department's
Circular HFPD 1/11 & PSSP 2/11, these sites have now been categorised to produce a
shortlist of developments requiring a high level of intervention and that shortlist includes the
main unfinished housing developments within the North Fringe area.
The Minister for Housing and Planning, Mr. Willie Penrose TD has directed that Local
Authorities must deal with public safety issues arising from unfinished housing developments
as a matter of urgency and has allocated €5m to deal with the most problematic sites.
The main criteria for attracting funds are that the relevant development must be presenting
with significant public safety issues and there is no developer or receiver in place. The
DoEHLG has stated that sites will only be considered for funding under this initiative for
remedial works required to render the sites safe and thereby address critical public safety
type matters. Elements of work and expenditure which are not essential to ensuring sites are
made safe, i.e. works other than those required to prevent unauthorised access will be
disregarded.
Dublin City Council has established a dedicated Unfinished Housing Developments Task
Force. The team is currently inspecting all shortlisted sites including those located in the
North Fringe and is preparing documentation to support an application for funding for sites
which meet the Department's criteria. The funding application will entail a detailed report
identifying the public safety issues involved, costing for the remedial works along with
supporting information in relation to enforcement status, the position of site funder and cost
recovery proposals.
Céline Reilly
Area Manager
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