This week’s announcement by Dublin City Council that gardaí, nurses, teachers and other key workers will be eligible to rent newly converted low-cost homes in the city centre is welcome. The move, focusing first on two locations in the north inner city, aims to breathe life into long-vacant properties while tackling one of the more egregious effects of the housing crisis: that people cannot afford to live in the communities where they work.
There are many international precedents for such a scheme. In cities such as Berlin, Paris and Vienna, local authorities have successfully converted under-used stock into mixed-tenure housing and cost-rental tenancies, helping to stabilise inner-city populations and reducing speculative vacancy. These examples suggest that, with political will and sufficient funding, the concept can deliver both social benefits and urban renewal.
But there are reasons to be cautious. The council’s plan is to make the first batch of homes available within three years. However, previous efforts to bring derelict or under-occupied buildings back into use have often stalled or delivered limited results. Proposals to refurbish upper floors above retail, or to convert vacant heritage properties, frequently face planning blockages, funding shortfalls or owner resistance. Unless this scheme is backed by sustained resources and rigorous oversight, it risks joining the long list of well-intentioned announcements that never quite materialised
The devil, then, is in the detail. Will the planned supports, incentives and enforcement mechanisms be sufficient? Will central government match the necessary grants or tax incentives? Can the council ensure that its ambitious timescale is not undermined by bureaucratic inertia or unforeseen obstacles?
RM Block
If this pilot falters or drags, public confidence in the council’s ability to effect real improvements to the city will be further undermined. But if delivered well, it could become a model for rejuvenating inner Dublin and restoring equity for those who serve the city but currently cannot live there.
