Ó Dálaigh Slams An Bord Pleanála For Green-Lighting 345 Vulture Homes In Galway
Ian Ó Dálaigh has slammend An Bord Pleanála for granting planning permission for the construction of 345 Build-To-Rent apartments at the Crown Square development in Mervue, Galway City.
Speaking from Galway, the local Éirígí representative, said, "The news that JJ Rhatigan have secured planning permission for the construction of 345 Build-to-Rent apartments at the Crown Square development in Mervue comes as no surprise.
Planning permission was sought under the anti-democratic 'Strategic Housing Development' system, meaning it was sought directly from An Bórd Pleanála - bypassing the local authority planning stage.
The SHD legislation has proven to be a disaster for ordinary working people. It has resulted in the fast-tracking of scores of Built-To-Rent developments encompassing thousands upon thousands of homes, without any meaningful local input.
The introduction of the SHD legislation was just one of a suite of measures that the Dublin government took to encourage the vulture landlords into the state, measures that included not only changes to the planning system, but also to taxation and housing policy.
Éirígí ‘Vultures Out’ protest on Eyre Square, Galway in May 2021
The political establishment claim that BTR will help reduce the cost of housing by increasing the supply of housing, but the reality the vulture landlords that control the BTR sector have implemented an aggressive rent-pricing strategy that has significantly contributed to the ballooning of rents across the entire rental sector.
In Galway and elsewhere we are seeing the full negative impact of the government’s disasterous housing policies now. Thousands of students cannot secure rental accommodation for the academic year. Working people are paying extortionate rent for substandard housing - if they're 'lucky' enough to find it. The people of Galway need more housing, but not housing owned by corporate mega-landlords; not housing that will be unaffordable to most.
It is an absolute disgrace that An Bord Pleanála has granted permission for this development of 345 BTR homes - most when it now so clear that this form of housing is making the housing crisis worse and not better.
Instead of BTR we need is a new system of Universal Public Housing. This system would provide for genuinely affordable rent - that is rent linked to a person's income. And it would provide long-term security of tenure, while being open to ALL, regardles of their income.
This is the only viable, long-term solution to the chaos of a profit-driven housing system. This is the only system that can permanently end the housing crisis, and radically transform Irish society for the better."
Éirígí Galway information stall about the vulture takeover of Irish housing
Éirígí has been to the fore of highlighting and pushing back against the vulutre takeover of Irish housing over recent years. Our ground-breaking Track The Vultures map has identified more than 31,000 Irish homes - completed and at various stages of construction - that are set to be vulture-owned by 2023. You can view the map here.
If you’re ready to join the fight for housing justice and for a New Republic in Galway or any other part of Ireland, please do today here.