At the January 2020 meeting of Dublin City Council, Mary called for Councillors to reject the CEO’s proposal to sell-off €90m of public land.

The disposal of public assets is a reserved function of Dublin City Councillors i.e. public land can only be sold with the approval of elected City Councillors. Mary urges all City Councillors to withhold permission for the sell-off of valuable public land. 

CEO of Dublin City Council submitted a report to City Councillors outlining his proposal to sell off more than 15 sites in the city and to use the funds to invest in culture, recreation, community and sporting facilities. 

The CEO states that without the sale of this land, developments like Dalymount and Rutland Street school cannot proceed. 

The report highlights the stark reality of inadequate funding for local government because of national government decisions.

Public land is a finite and precious resource in the city.   Once sold, the land cannot be replaced.  It is unacceptable that the state would sell-off land and/or fail to develop the land for the greater public good.

The suggestion that culture, recreation, sporting and community facilities would be funded in such an unsustainable manner is unacceptable.

Dublin City is in the grips of the worst housing crisis in the history of the state and Dublin City Council, as the local authority, should take a leading role to address the crisis and provide housing. 

Key to the provision of housing is the availability of suitable land.  Much of the land that the CEO proposes to sell is ideally suited for the delivery of homes and this must be the City Councils first priority. 

Despite national governments continued failure, Dublin City Council must take a lead to deliver social and affordable housing in Dublin City.  Public land in Dublin City must be developed to deliver Vienna Housing Model solution in Dublin City.

Mary asked that the CEO provide a report on what alternative sources of funding have been explored for each of the proposed developments in the CEO’s report.

Mary also asked that Dublin City Council seek retention of the full €80m paid in Local Property Tax by Dublin City homeowners, that the money can be ring-fenced for Dublin City, that public lands be retained in public ownership and that they are developed for maximum public benefit.