Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

I am working on an issue I think will become very prevalent in social housing as build-to-rent apartments are rolled out. I am working with local people and with local councillor Hazel de Nortúin to campaign against what we are calling social segregation. In the build-to-rent model, 10% of apartments can go back to the local authority for social housing but families are now experiencing what it is like to live in these. The apartments are gorgeous but, though the contract was signed to say all amenities, including playgrounds, games rooms and shared party rooms, would be available to all in the complex, social tenant residents are locked out of those amenities. That is social segregation in Part V apartments and it is spreading like a disease through the city where these apartments are opened up. I raise it with the Tánaiste because the policy in the Department of housing, not the council, is for everybody to share all amenities. Children do not understand why they cannot use playgrounds. Explain that to a child in a wheelchair.

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