Dublin deserves more than developer led planning
Dublin deserves more than developer led planning - The Labour Party
- New guidelines undermine local democracy
Labour Councillor Darragh Moriarty and Chair of Dublin City Council’s Community, Gaeilge, Sport, Arts & Culture Committee, says Government pandering to developers and overriding of the Dublin City Development Plan represents a gross undermining of local democracy.
A motion at last night’s Dublin City Council meeting tabled by Labour and the Green Party called on Government to halt its plans to drive down minimum standards for apartments and gut key planning provision that requires 5% of developments in Strategic Development and Regeneration Areas (SDRAs), or developments over 10,000 sq.m, to be allocated to community or cultural space, received cross-party support with the exception of Fianna Fáil.
The emergency motion was tabled after it emerged at the weekend that the Government intends to slash minimum requirements for community facilities under new proposed apartment guidelines. Labour’s Cllr Darragh Moriarty, Chair of the Council’s Community, Gaeilge, Sport, Arts & Culture Committee, described the move as “a race to the bottom, driven by developers and facilitated by central Government overreach.”
Cllr Moriarty said:
“Yesterday, Dublin City Council, the largest local authority in the country, sent yet another strong message to Government and to Minister James Browne, in particular, that these proposed changes are unacceptable. This is the latest in a string of efforts by Government to hollow out and undermine Dublin City Council. We are dismayed that such drastic proposals came to light only over the weekend, that the proposals were leaked and briefed to media with absolutely zero engagement with Dublin City Council management or Councillors. It shows a blatant disregard for the role of local authorities in sustainable planning.
“It’s not enough for Government to reduce the size and quality of people’s homes — now they appear to be going a step further by undermining the hard-fought provision for 5% community or cultural space in major developments. This was a crucial win in the 2022–2028 Dublin City Development Plan and forms the backbone of sustainable development in our city.
“There is a real fear that what we’re witnessing is a centrally driven, developer-led race to the bottom. The LDA’s role in this must also be interrogated. I know personally of the LDA’s attempts to undermine and circumvent its obligations to provide 5% cultural and community spaces in the Dublin City Council area. Not only are private developers bending the ear of Government, but so are the body tasked with deliver public housing. If these proposals go ahead, it will completely hollow out the civic and cultural fabric of our communities. People don’t just need housing — they need places to gather, learn, create, and build community.
“This motion was supported right across the political spectrum – with only Fianna Fáil refusing to support. Dublin City Council is united in its concern and dismay at this Government. These changes strike at the heart of local democracy and sustainable community planning.
“Council has agreed to urgently write to Minister James Browne to seek clarity and request a meeting on these alarming reports. We need immediate transparency and answers.
“I am calling on Government not to agree to these changes. Communities across Dublin deserve better than to be sold out for short-term developer gain.”