Oscar Traynor Housing must meet highest standards
Labour Party Group Leader on Dublin City Council, Councillor Darragh Moriarty, has raised concerns after work on the affordable housing project at the Oscar Traynor Road site in Coolock was paused due to the discovery of defects and failures to comply with building regulations. The issues, which came to light following inspections by Dublin City Council’s (DCC) Building Control, highlight worrying deficiencies in the supervision and standards of one of the country’s largest developers, Glenveagh.
Councillor Moriarty said:
“Any failure to meet basic building standards on a site as significant as the Oscar Traynor development is concerning. This is one of the largest housing projects in the country, intended to deliver much-needed affordable homes in the middle of a housing crisis. The fact that inadequate building standards were not flagged until DCC Building Control carried out inspections raises serious questions about the supervision and oversight by Glenveagh prior to this intervention.
“Even more concerning is that the public only became aware of this issue because it was leaked. The lack of transparency is unacceptable when we are talking about a development that should set the gold standard for affordable housing projects. We need to ensure every home built on this site is of the highest quality, offering safety, security, and value to those who will live there. Anything less would be an insult to the thousands of families waiting for housing.
“Ireland is grappling with a housing crisis of historic proportions. With over 15,000 people in emergency accommodation, we cannot afford any delays or substandard work on projects like this. Yet here we are, with one of the largest developers in the country being hauled in by DCC Building Control to address significant issues. This site must not only meet but exceed basic regulations – it should be a standard-bearer for all housing developments in Ireland.
Councillor Moriarty also called on Dublin City Council to clarify the extent of the defects and provide assurances that every measure will be taken to ensure the project is brought back on track without compromising on quality. “I have asked Council management how concerned they are about these issues and whether the supervision by Glenveagh prior to inspections was inadequate. Developers must be held to account. These homes need to be built properly, without cutting corners, and we must have full transparency on how this situation will be resolved.
“This project is vital, but it must be delivered to the highest possible standards. The Labour Party will continue to press for accountability and oversight to ensure no further delays and no compromise on quality. We must get this right and ensure solutions are found in a timely manner, so families can move into safe, affordable homes as soon as possible.”