Asked why an exemption was granted in the middle of a housing crisis, the Taoiseach’s spokesman said: “This was a decision of Cabinet on the recommendation of the line Minister.” Photograph: Alan Betsonhas signed a legal order exempting a large parcel of State land at the TU Dublin college on Aungier Street from “social and affordable” housing law when the property transfers to new owners.
The move came under the Land Development Agency Act of 2021, which established the State body responsible for building social and affordable homes on public land. The LDA has been criticised for the slow delivery of new homes.Cathal Lombard’s Olympics story sounded too good to be true. In the end, it was
The Aungier Street site, at the historic location of the former Jacob’s biscuit factory, accommodates some 5,000 business students in a campus extending almost to 26,000sq m near St Stephen’s Green. Such challenges were identified “particularly in relation to the cost of adapting the property to residential use”, the LDA said in reply to questions. “Following the assessment, the LDA notified the GDA that it would not be seeking to acquire the property,” the LDA added.
The department said GDA confirmed it would proceed with plans to dispose of the property and to seek an exemption from the LDA Act.