{"id":546377,"date":"2026-07-12T20:43:09","date_gmt":"2026-07-12T20:43:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/546377\/"},"modified":"2026-07-12T20:43:09","modified_gmt":"2026-07-12T20:43:09","slug":"mary-lou-mcdonald-lodges-appeal-over-250-bed-student-residence-in-her-constituency","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/546377\/","title":{"rendered":"Mary Lou McDonald lodges appeal over 250-bed student residence in her constituency"},"content":{"rendered":"

Sinn F\u00e9in president Mary Lou McDonald has lodged an appeal with An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la against a decision to grant planning permission for a 249-bed student accommodation facility in her constituency in north Dublin.<\/p>\n

The Dublin Central TD is challenging the decision of Dublin City Council to approve the plans by R&D Developments Limited for the construction of the purpose-built student accommodation scheme on the site of the former Matt\u2019s of Cabra pub on Fassaugh Avenue in Dublin 7.<\/p>\n

The proposed development will be across two blocks, up to six storeys in height<\/p>\n

Ms McDonald made a joint appeal against the development with local Sinn F\u00e9in councillor Seamus McGratten.<\/p>\n

A separate appeal against the development has also been lodged by Iarnr\u00f3d \u00c9ireann because of its concern that works on the site would have the potential to affect the DART+South West project, which will provide electrification of the railway between Hazelhatch and Glasnevin via the Phoenix Park tunnel line.<\/p>\n

In May, Ms McDonald claimed the council\u2019s ruling in favour of the development was \u201ca disgraceful decision.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Sinn F\u00e9in leader claims the site of the former pub should be used to deliver affordable and social homes, which are badly needed in the local community.<\/p>\n

While Ms McDonald acknowledged that there is also a need for student accommodation, she claims there is a site on TU Dublin\u2019s campus in Grangegorman which could provide a development of 2,100 student beds.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Grangegorman campus is much more appropriate to deliver student accommodation,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n

Ms McDonald claimed R&D Developments\u2019 proposed development would overshadow surrounding streets and reduce the privacy of local residents.<\/p>\n

She also expressed concern that it would create issues with parking, traffic congestion, and road safety, as well as placing additional pressures on local services.<\/p>\n

While acknowledging that there was broad local support for redevelopment of the site, Ms McDonald said any proposal \u201cmust meet the needs of the community and comply with the City Development Plan 2022-2028.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe proposal does not consider adequate open spaces, transport, parking, or drainage capacity, which further highlights the unsuitability of this site for this proposal,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n

Ms McDonald said the plans did not align with the principle of creating sustainable and inclusive neighbourhoods.<\/p>\n

She said the site represented \u201ca rare and valuable opportunity to deliver social and affordable housing.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"Limerick<\/p>\n

Ireland<\/p>\n

Limerick mayor calls on Taoiseach to deal with uncertainty around Aughinish Alumina<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

However, the Sinn F\u00e9in president was accused of \u201cnimbyism\u201d by the Minister for Higher Education, James Lawless, earlier this year after her party criticised the number of student accommodation places delivered by the Government.<\/p>\n

Consultants acting for R&D Developments Ltd said there was an ever-growing and increasing demand for student accommodation, with the private rental sector suffering because of the demands placed on it.<\/p>\n

They pointed out that there are 36 third-level colleges within a 5km radius with good public transport connections.<\/p>\n

A ruling by An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la on the appeals is due in early October.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Sinn F\u00e9in president Mary Lou McDonald has lodged an appeal with An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la against a decision to…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":546378,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[72,61,60],"class_list":["post-546377","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-business","tag-business","tag-ie","tag-ireland"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/546377","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=546377"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/546377\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/546378"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=546377"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=546377"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=546377"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}