22nd January 2002

PRESS RELEASE

GREEN PARTY QUERIES €8M PAID FOR 9 HOUSING SITES BY DÚN LAOGHAIRE RATHDOWN COUNCIL ON FORMER GREEN BELT LANDS BETWEEN BRAY AND SHANKILL

The Green Party has written to the Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Manager seeking an explanation for the Council's eight million Euro purchase of 22 acres of land that is currently zoned to allow a maximum of nine houses. The purchase price was revealed in a Freedom of Information request to Dún Laoghaire Rathdown Council by Mr. Cuffe.

"Why is the Council buying land for these absurd prices when their own Housing Strategy states that there is already adequate housing land within the County to provide for requirements up to 2006.", stated Mr. Cuffe. "I am concerned that this is the thin end of the wedge, and that the Councillors and Officials may be attempting to destroy the Green Belt between Shankill and Bray",

"The Council has not even varied its Development Plan to take account of the Government's Higher Density Guidelines. This would allow them to make much more efficient use of their existing land bank" he stated. "They can also designate up to 20% of private sector housing for Social or Affordable Housing under the Housing Act.

The twenty-two acres of land are known as the Hernon lands (formally owned by Mr. Charles Hernon) and are located between Ballyman Road and Ferndale Road in Old Connaught. They were rezoned from high amenity to residential amenity in 1998, on foot of a motion by Cllr. Larry Butler (FF).

ENDS

For further information contact:

Ciarán Cuffe, Dáil Candidate  087 265 2075 or 618 3082