The proposed deal for the Poolbeg West SDZ in Dublin city has come under criticism over a failure to guarantee enough affordable homes.

Dublin City Council has been urged to reject the proposal until 15% of the units are set aside for affordable homes as per the site master plan.

Local Sinn Sinn Féin Councillor, Daniel Céitinn said the proposal "falls far short" of expectations, calling on the Government to transfer the NAMA interest in the site to DCC to allow for the delivery of affordable housing.

Councillor Céitinn said: "For seven years, the Irish Glass Bottle Housing Action Group and the local community campaigned to ensure that at least 15% of these homes would be affordable for working people.

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"This was supported by all Dublin City Councillors, and it was included in the legally binding SDZ masterplan which was approved by An Bord Pleanala in 2019.

"The proposed deal, as reported in the Business Post, provides for just 25 affordable units in the first phase of development. That is just 4% of the units. It also provides that these units might be sold on the open market if they cannot be sold as affordable units because of the Government's failure to secure truly affordable prices. 

"This puts the delivery of the promised 500 affordable homes at risk. That is entirely unacceptable. These homes are needed in the local community, where housing prices have skyrocketed, and local families have been driven out by sky-high rents. 

"To ensure that affordable housing is delivered on the site as promised, we are calling on Dublin City Council to demand that this deal is rejected and improved.

"Council management must secure 15% of the units for affordable housing. That is the mandate set by the Council. The Government should transfer NAMA's 20% interest in the development to the City Council to enable the Council to deliver genuinely affordable homes for working people."