Dublin City Councillors are being urged to reject plans to sell the former Magdalene Laundry Site in Dublin to private developers.

Fianna Fail Cllr Mary Fitzpatrick called for the site on Sean McDermott Street to remain in public ownership and for new homes to be developed at the site as well as a memorial for the Magdalene survivors.

She said: "This prominent two-acre site was given to the State as compensation for the horrors endured by women in the Laundry. It is infuriating that rather than develop this valuable asset to address the chronic social and economic need for affordable housing in the North Inner City, DCC would sooner sell it to a foreign entity.

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"There are acute housing shortages that are only set to worsen. Therefore, it makes zero sense for the State to sell-off valuable, zoned and serviced land in the heart of our Capital to private developers with no obligation to provide housing.

"This vacant site presents a once in a generation opportunity to kick start the long-promised regeneration of our community and development of affordable, sustainable public homes in the heart of our capital city. The Government has a duty of care to support the full and meaningful regeneration of Dublin’s North Inner City.

"The proposed sale of this prime land underscores the necessity to establish a Statutory Development Agency dedicated to the regeneration of the north inner city, as proposed by Fianna Fáil."

(CD/MH)