Last year, developers pulled out of a PPP deal with Dublin City Council leaving local residents of O’Devaney Gardens – and those in the St Michael’s Estate, Dominic Street and Croke Villas communities – high and dry because, as one developer, McNamara said, the housing downturn and the economic slump had “rendered these projects unviable”. When the private partner is afraid they won’t make enough money, they just pull out with minimal consequences.
There is lots of anger locally. Joe Kelly, a local resident said, "I don’t like the building at all. It’s a symbol of State oppression and mis-use of power and wealth. Spending almost €300m on it while kids are being taught in leaky pre-fabs is appalling. I hope the judges when they look at the dereliction in nearby O’Devaney gardens are ashamed of themselves as they relax in the roof-top gardens"
The protest was called by the Dublin Central Branch of the People Before Profit Alliance and they were joined by local residents, tenants organisations and a number of other political parties.
Speaking at the protest Dublin City Councillor for People Before Profit, Cllr Joan Collins said “These new court buildings are the legacy of the Celtic Tiger, where hundreds of millions can be found to lock up working people, while local community services are cut and nothing is being done to address people’s housing needs, with areas such as O’Devaney Gardens, St Michael’s Estate & Dominic St are left over a decade for regeneration. It’s a disgrace”
People Before Profit Alliance, which is active in the community, opposes PPPs, which line developers’ pockets but leave families living in substandard housing. The Alliance calls for the immediate state-funded regeneration of inner city communities: to build new housing and provide jobs for local people. People Before Profit opposes NAMA, in effect a bail-out for developers & bankers and opposes the €4 billion cuts in public spending that penalise working people.
For more information:
Contact Joe Kelly 086 172 3535 or Colm Stephens 087 294 7100
People Before Profit Alliance (Dublin Central)
