Warning over religious order lands plan

CONTROVERSIAL proposals by Dublin City Council to restrict the lands of religious orders from being rezoned for residential use could prove unconstitutional.

Dublin City manager John Fitzgerald has warned councillors they could be acting beyond their legal powers with plans to limit the development potential of such lands. Last September, members of Dublin City Council voted overwhelmingly in support of a measure that would constrict lands belonging to religious-owned schools and hospitals from being rezoned for residential purposes unless such a zoning included a provision for social and affordable housing.

The Conference of Religious of Ireland, which represents religious institutions as well as more than 12 individual orders, has complained that such a measure, if passed, could cost them millions of euro through a sharp reduction in the development value of their property.

Religious orders argue that the proposals, if passed, could force them to close.

However, the city manager has recommended that councillors reverse a decision to impose such a restriction on the future zoning of institutional lands in the Draft Development Plan 2005-2011.

Labour councillor Oisín Quinn, who supports the controversial amendment, said councillors would have to take Mr Fitzgerald’s view into account before the manager’s recommendation to reverse the proposal is voted upon at a meeting on January 31.