For many years Mary has lobbied Dublin City Council to build good quality, affordable, energy efficient one and two bed residential units in Dublin Central. 

Such units give residents who no longer need three and four bed family homes the opportunity to secure more appropriate sized homes without having to leave the local area.

After many years Dublin City Council finally commenced in 2018 the Part 8 planning process for demolition of St Finbarr’s Court on Kilkiernan Road in Cabra west.

It is expected that demolition of the twenty-nine vacant bedsits should commence in July/August 2019. 

Following demolition, it is hoped forty-six one and two bed apartments will be built on the site. 

However the design stage is yet to be completed and it is expected the city council will only approve the Part 8 design proposal in December 2019.  

DCC intends tendering and awarding the contract to build in first quarter of 2020.  Construction is expected to take 18-24 months so the first units might be handed-over by the end of 2021.

Mary welcomes the development of St Finbarr’s court but is critical of the tortuously slow pace for this development and has called for a more accelerated approach from Dublin City Council.  

Mary says ” There is huge demand from resident’s in Dublin Central, who want to trade in three or four bed homes, but don’t want to move out of the area. Unfortunately they have very limited options because of the poor supply of good quality smaller homes. 

“Dublin Central has many suitable sites for the development of energy efficient, good quality, affordable one and two bed units and the City Council needs to take a more pro-active approach to delivering such homes.

” If elected to City Council in May 2019, I will make the delivery of affordable, good quality, energy efficient homes a priority for my five year term so that everyone in Dublin Central can have a affordable, secure and comfortable place to call home.”