Did the council follow the correct process to name Herzog Park back in 1995?
Or has Rathgar been living with Orwell Quarry Park all this time?
The council is to partially restart its tenant-in-situ scheme, said officials, but mainly focus on buying second-hand homes for long-term homeless families.
One landowner says that he doesn’t make that much from it, and is eager to develop the building.
Otherwise, there could be near-catastrophic levels of homelessness, says Gareth Redmond, of Threshold.
Dublin councillors were looking at Limerick as a model for regeneration. But there’s disquiet there now, with concerns about transparency, oversight, and control over development.
“We don’t appear to have any regulations to cover people in that situation,” says Camille Loftus, head of advocacy for Age Action.
The landlord argued that the renters in the Rathmines building were hotel guests and that they didn’t have exclusive occupation.
“We want people to enjoy being outside,” says Green Party Councillor Janet Horner. “But I think there is a free-for-all approach at the moment.”
Dublin City Council is employing artists to work with children to co-design improvements to the area.
“Every child I have been with on admission to emergency placements, whether it is foster care or residential, has told me they are scared,” says Claire Brogan, a practice manager with Barnardos.
“Housing First works best when it is high quality, consistent and for as long as necessary,” says Samara Jones, coordinator of the Housing First Europe Hub.
“It seems crazy,” says Kieran Rose, a former council planner. “An aparthotel is a totally different use.”