Sinn Fein slams 'exclusionary' Camden Yard deal over transparency concerns
Sinn Fein has stated that Dublin City Council’s plan to acquire Camden Yard raises serious questions about “governance, transparency and accountability.”In an emergency motion due to be tabled at the upcoming monthly meeting of Dublin City Council, Sinn Fein councillors are collectively demanding that the Chief Executive fully engage with representatives before any decision is made on the future of the Wood Quay and the Camden Yard development.Having been “kept in the dark” about this multi-million euro purchase of the former DIT site on Kevin Street, Sinn Fein Group Leader on Dublin City Council Cllr Daithí Doolan said his party are “deeply concerned about how this whole matter has been handled.”It’s been reported the site could pave the way for up to 800 new social and affordable homes in the city centre. It may also become the new civic office headquarters for Dublin City Council.“We most certainly welcome plans for more public housing in the city centre and any decision on these two sites should be about maximising public housing delivery, as well as enhanced services for citizens and value for money,” Cllr Doolan said."This could be a very positive development for Dublin. But city councillors cannot be kept in the dark on these important matters."The drip, drip release of information to the media is wholly unacceptable. Also, selective briefings of certain parties only fuel the confusion."Looking to the future, a repeat of this exclusion and confusion must be avoided. Sinn Féin want a commitment from the Chief Executive that all city councillors will be kept fully updated and fully informed before any future decisions of this nature are made again."The emergency motion set to go before the council on Monday, January 12 states there is “deep concern” around the way the situation has been handled and, although maximising public housing delivery is a priority for Sinn Fein, it brings up “many questions and genuine concerns that need to be addressed.”“A request for a briefing was refused with the manager claiming they had no access to the facts and figures. But, within 48 hours councillors were informed by email that the media were to be informed of the plan,” the motion stated.“This whole process raises serious questions about the Chief Executive’s commitment to governance, transparency and accountability. We want a commitment from the Chief Executive that all council groups will be kept fully updated and fully informed before any future decisions of this nature are made again.”When contacted for comment, a spokesperson from Dublin City Council stated:"Dublin City Council can confirm that it is currently in exclusive discussions regarding the potential acquisition of the Camden Yard site on Kevin Street, formerly the DIT campus. Heads of Agreement have been signed to facilitate a 10-week due diligence period. The proposed acquisition remains subject to due diligence and the Council’s statutory governance and approval processes.Should the acquisition proceed, the intention is to deliver a new Civic Offices and up to 300 public homes on the Camden Yard site. Relocating from the current Civic Offices at Wood Quay would unlock the potential for more than 500 public homes on that site, while providing modern, sustainable workplaces for staff and improved public services for citizens. Developing energy-efficient accommodation at Camden Yard would also significantly reduce operational emissions, supporting the Council’s climate commitments. Retrofitting the existing Civic Offices at Wood Quay to meet climate targets is currently estimated to require €350–€400 million, whereas developing new accommodation at Camden Yard would avoid these retrofit costs.In relation to councillor engagement, representatives of all political parties on the Council were informed by phone by the Chief Executive and senior staff between 14–16 December. The Lord Mayor was kept informed from the outset while the opportunity was being explored, given the sensitive, commercially confidential nature of the proposals. On 19 December, Councillors and the Lord Mayor received a written update in advance of staff and media communications later that afternoon. That update outlined the Heads of Agreement and the due diligence process, as well as the potential benefits of the acquisition.Any potential acquisition and subsequent development remain subject to due diligence, statutory approvals, and the Council’s governance processes. Dublin City Council will continue to keep elected members informed and will provide further briefings at the appropriate points in line with these processes."This content is funded by the Local Democracy Reporting SchemeJoin our Dublin Live breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive your daily dose of Dublin Live content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.For all the latest news from Dublin and surrounding areas visit our homepage.
