Land-swap scheme causes ‘ghettos’

POORER families are being forced into “ghettos” so that developers can acquire prime city centre sites under the Government’s controversial land-swap scheme, the Green Party claimed yesterday.

The warning followed an announcement by Environment Minister Dick Roche that a prestigious Dublin 4 building would be sold to a property company in exchange for 89 affordable homes in Dublin 15.

Mr Roche insisted the land swap was good value for money as the 89 homes would come on stream much quicker than if the D4 site was sold for its market value of €8 million and that money then distributed to local councils.