More talks on Dodder residents' package

Efforts will be made today to conclude an enhanced compensation package for residents affected by the redevelopment of Lansdowne…

Efforts will be made today to conclude an enhanced compensation package for residents affected by the redevelopment of Lansdowne Road stadium.

Local councillors are holding back on plans to transfer to the developer half an acre of land along the Dodder river until the compensation package is agreed.

The transfer of a strip of the Dodder Walk, which is owned by the council, is critical to the €300 million redevelopment project.

Members of the council's southeast area committee will meet tomorrow evening in advance of a full Dublin City Council meeting which is to make a decision on the transfer of the strip of land along the Dodder Walk.

READ SOME MORE

The Lansdowne Road Stadium Development Company has offered a compensation package of €1.8 million to residents in the adjacent O'Connell Gardens and along the Dodder Walk, but the councillors want a package closer to €2.4 million.

Talks between the development company and the council ended without agreement on Friday, but are to continue today.

Local Labour councillor Dermot Lacey said the compensation package request was reasonable and the money being sought on behalf of the residents was not comparable to the loss in value of their homes which would be caused by the development.

"It is one of the few powers we have as local councillors and we intend to exercise it on behalf of the residents," he said. "We are not bluffing.

No one from the development company was available for comment yesterday.

Ronan McGreevy

Ronan McGreevy

Ronan McGreevy is a news reporter with The Irish Times