The North Central Area Committee notes with concern the continuous delays in the schedule of the Oscar Traynor Lands Initiative. The North Central Area Committee also notes with concern the lack of an affordable housing scheme from central government that would enable 20% of units in this land initiative to be provided for affordable purchase. Acknowledging the approach being implemented by DCC Housing section that has allocated one project team to all three projects (see response to Q 31 DCC October below) and the approach that the housing projects are to be progressed in a sequential order rather that simultaneously, the North Central Area Committee calls for a revision to this approach and the allocation of a Oscar Traynor Land Initiative only project team to allow this project to regain lapsed time and specific overseeing and management.
Question to the Chief Executive
Council Meeting 1st October 2018
Q.31 COUNCILLOR ALISON GILLILAND
CA
NCA
SCA
To ask the Chief Executive to list the number and role of the DCC staff allocated to
the O'Devaney Gardens Land Initiative project team and to explain why the same
project is being used for all 3 Land Initiative projects - this is causing inexcusable delays while work on one projects waits to be finished to allow another to begin ie project team on O'Devaney Gardens must wait for ITPD to be issued for the Oscar Traynor Project.
CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S REPLY:
The development of three Land Initiative projects, O’Devaney Gardens, Oscar Traynor and St. Michael’s Estate were approved by the Elected Members of the City Council in January and while all three are complex and the Public Procurement process is obviously onerous, we are satisfied that good progress has been made .
The three projects are crucial for the City in the context of the housing crisis and the need for Regeneration at the locations involved.
It was always indicated that the projects would proceed in the order of (1) O’Devaney Gardens (2) Oscar Traynor Road and (3) St. Michael’s Estate with a single Steering Group (chaired by Brendan Kenny, Assistant Chief Executive).
The St. Michael’s project has now taken on a different direction and a separate Project Manager has been appointed for that scheme.
Below the Steering Group, there is a strong and permanent Project Team consisting of Architects, Valuers, Quantity Surveyors, Planners, Legal as well as representatives from the Department of Housing, Planning & Local Government and the National Treasury Management Agency (N.T.M.A.). This team is also supported by external consultants advising on Legal and Procurement issues.
It is sensible that the Project Team drives both projects because the process is similar and learning from the O’Devaney project which is now at a crucial stage will be transferred to the Oscar Traynor project which should speed up the time-scales there. If any additional resources are required then they will be assigned accordingly.
Both proposals are complex but we are satisfied with progress being made and the Oscar Traynor project is not being delayed because of work being done on the O’Devaney project.
A comprehensive report on the Oscar Traynor Project will be circulated to all Councillors on the North West and Central Area Committees next week.
Contact: Hugh McKenna, Senior Executive Officer - 2226041
Email: hugh.mckenna@dublincity.ie
Minutes:
Order: Report to Councillor.