Irish Housing Minister, Darragh O’Brien has defended the sale of public land to developers to build massive numbers of private homes.
He said the housing crisis can’t be solved with “one hand tied behind your back” by using public house building only.
The Minister for Housing was speaking as the debate raged in his home constituency of Dublin Fingal over a proposed 1,200 home project with plans for 720 private homes.
Fingal County Council have proposed to sell the land for these homes, plus over 500 social and affordable homes, to a private builder for just €11million.
However, Mr O’Brien told the Irish Mirror that he believes that the use of public land for private for-profit developments has a part to play in the housing mix.
He said: “What I want is delivery, what I want is affordable homes.
“If we use the example of that (FCC project), without giving a recommendation to councillors, and I want to be clear on that, it’s their decision.
“As part of that scheme, with affordable and social, you’re looking at 500 homes, 238 affordable, 238 social and also I understand cost-rental.
“So we’re not going to be able to tackle this housing crisis or deliver the homes with one hand tied behind our back with just using the resources of the State alone, public house building.”
Private developers are set for a €300million sales bonanza selling private homes on public land in the proposed €11million deal with Fingal County Council.
(IRISH MIRROR)
