Over e6m spent on stalled schemes
DUBLIN City Council has spent over €6m in "unrecoverable costs" on five stalled regeneration schemes in the capital.
The housing schemes, which were to be built by developer Bernard McNamara, have fallen through and the council is understood to be attempting to contact other developers in an attempt to get new homes built.
And today the Labour Party will call on the Government to take direct responsibility for the projects at St Michael's Estate in Inchicore, O'Devaney Gardens, Sean MacDermott Street, Dominick Street and Infirmary Road in the inner city.
Review
The party says a full review of public private partnerships must be carried out, and developers must not be allowed walk away from contracts to build social housing in deprived areas of the city.
The €900m deal between the council and Mr McNamara to build 1,800 homes for the least well-off fell through last May.
Under the proposals, the developers were to retain about 800 units and sell them, with the remainder to be used by Dublin City Council for social and affordable housing.
Mr McNamara claimed the council had changed the terms of the contract which would have required higher energy standards and bigger units to be built which would have added significantly to costs.
The Labour Party is calling for 2002 legislation covering public private partnership contracts to be reviewed to protect the interests of residents awaiting new accommodation.
- Paul Melia
