A LOCAL ELECTION candidate says that of 10 derelict sites in Dublin he sought ownership details of, eight were owned by Dublin City Council and six have no plans to be made useful.
Former Green Party TD Ciarán Cuffe is calling on the council to either make something of the sites or sell them after obtaining the information through European access to information rules.
As well as providing details of their ownership of the sites, the council was also asked if it had any proposals to develop the sites in which they hold an interest.
In six of the cases, there were no plans at present. One of the sites on North King Street is being used as a temporary park while a site on Werburgh Street has a plan in place but not timeframe to develop it.
Cuffe says that it “comes as no surprise” that Dublin City Council own eight of the sites he investigated:
They have a long history of buying up land for ill-conceived road plans. However, I am surprised that they haven’t come up with proposals for their temporary use. Only one of these sites is being adopted for temporary use.
The site at North King Street that has been used as a temporary park was derelict for 25 years before it was put to use.
Cuffe says that DCC needs to “get its house in order” because the derelict sites are damaging both for residents and visitors.
“If they cannot come up with decent uses for these sites, then they should put them on the market. Many of the sites could provide affordable homes, right in the heart of the city,” he argues.
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