DCC Plan To Sell Magdalene Laundry Must Be Rejected

Dublin City Council's plan to sell the last remaining Magdalene Laundry must be rejected by Councillors, Fianna Fáil General Election Candidate in Dublin Central, Mary Fitzpatrick, has said.

Urging Councillors to reject any proposals for the site, Deputy Fitzpatrick said: "It is five years since the then Taoiseach, Enda Kenny delivered a landmark apology to the victims and survivors of the Magdalene Laundries. Yet they, their families or the local community have not been meaningfully consulted on the future of the last remaining Magdalene laundry on Sean McDermott Street.

"Dublin City Council's proposal fails to appropriately respect those that were incarcerated in the laundry."

Deputy Fitzpatrick went on to highlight the inner city's "chronic housing need", with more than 2,000 applicants on the local authority housing, with a further 350 are currently registered as living in homelessness.

She continued: "If this Council understood the depth of the housing crisis, surely they would work to ensure that plans for this site would at very least include a substantial number of social and affordable housing units.

"The development proposal which will be put to Councillors for their approval earmarks four social units and not one affordable housing unit. The message was clear at this week's public meeting on the matter, we will not accept this plan.

"This a significant state owned 2 acre site right in the heart of our capital city and which has enormous strategic importance and potential.

"Any notion that the State should sell this prime urban, public site reflects a deep lack of commitment from the State to regenerate this area and must be rejected.

"We must achieve a better outcome; One that respects and values the Magdalene women, the local community and its distinct history, and also the future strategic importance of this valuable site for Dublin Central."

(MH/LM)