Richard Boyd Barrett: DLR Sells Cherrywood Land - Where Are Homes?
Richard Boyd Barrett raises alarm over a 13 May Independent report that DLR Properties, a wholly owned subsidiary of Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, put land in Cherrywood zoned for more than 1,000 housing units up for private sale. He challenges the state’s role and the political representation on the body, urging action to ensure the land delivers homes amid a housing crisis.
Report and allegation
Richard Boyd Barrett outlines the Independent Newspaper report from 13 May and says DLR Properties has put Cherrywood land zoned for over 1,000 units on the private market. He emphasises that the company is wholly owned by Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council and raises concern that councillors have no control or say.
Political responsibility
Barrett points to political representation on the body - naming Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael - and calls this state involvement in the disposal of potentially deliverable housing land shocking, particularly during a housing crisis. He frames the sale as a matter of public accountability.
Demand for action
He presses for engagement with Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council to make certain the land is used to build homes. Barrett stresses the urgent need for the 1,000 houses and asks that authorities ensure the development goes ahead for housing rather than private speculation.
Consequences and context
The intervention links the DLR Properties decision to wider concerns about housing supply and the role of local state-owned companies. Barrett’s remarks underline a push for transparency and for housing outcomes to take precedence over private market sales.
We publish thousands of recordings to make Irish politics transparent and resistant to manipulation. Spotted an error? Report it — together we are building a reliable archive of Irish politics.
Taoiseach, on the 13th of May, the Independent Newspaper reported that DLR Properties, a wholly owned subsidiary of Dun Laoghaire at Down County Council, but which, incredibly, councillors have no control over and no say over whatsoever, put up for sale land in Cherrywood which is zoned for more than 1,000 units of housing to be sold on the private market. Now this is shocking that the state, and it's the only political representation on it is Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, is selling off land that could be used for housing in the midst of a housing crisis. Deputy Boyd Barris, again I presume that the 1,000 units of housing that has been sold down with a view to development for housing, I presume? I've asked this rhetorically. I know but we have, well rhetorical or not then, get on with it please. I know but I do invite, I can't help it. Well I can. The energetic responses from Deputy Boyd Barris, he's engaged anyway, he's on every word I'm saying, which is important too, but I'm not being facetious about it, I presume and I would hope and I would engage with Dun Laoghaire to make sure that that's going to go for housing and that the houses will be built, the 1,000 houses, because we do need those 1,000 houses as well.
Thank you for downloading 🙏
If you publish this material on social media, we would be very grateful if you tagged VideoParliament. It helps us reach more people and keep building a transparent archive of Irish politics.
