Dermot Bannon fails to clear up grant scheme queries

Mr Bannon attended the launch of Wilkinsons Brook in Hollystown, having been involved in the design of the estate, developed by the Glenveagh construction company. Picture: Mark Stedman

Celebrity architect Dermot Bannon walked off amid questions from journalists as to why he received a private briefing from the Department of Housing on a grant scheme repeatedly mentioned in the most recent season of RTÉ’s Room to Improve.

The TV show host was attending a Land Development Agency (LDA) housing launch in Hollystown, Co Dublin, alongside a series of Government ministers, including Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien.

Mr Bannon attended the launch of Wilkinsons Brook in Hollystown, having been involved in the design of the estate, developed by the Glenveagh construction company.

Asked if his company had received a subvention for referencing the grants on his programme, Mr Bannon said: “No”.

It was reported in January that Mr Bannon, alongside Room to Improve’s quantity surveyor Claire Irwin, received a briefing from Department of Housing officials in September 2022 on the vacant property refurbishment scheme.

A Department of Housing spokesperson confirmed a briefing “on the mechanics of the scheme” was provided to the Room to Improve production team on September 23, 2022.

The minister said he was “not at all” concerned about the matter and insisted the TV show was only researching grants available to the public.

“I think, to be fair, for any show, or any newspaper, any TV show or radio show, it’s only right and proper that they do their research,” said Mr O’Brien.

He said the scheme aims to take vacant homes and bring them back into use, citing the 7,500 people who have applied since it came into effect. “It’s making a real difference and I absolutely see no problem with it,” he said.

“I actually don’t understand why there would be any difficulty whatsoever of informing the public about what’s there to help them get a home.”

After the first set of questions, Mr Bannon assured reporters he would speak after a series of tours of the new properties. “We’ve got a lot of houses to get through, and I will talk to you after this,” he said.

However, following a series of speeches and house tours, Mr Bannon refused to take further questions and left the housing development.

Comment was sought from production firm Coco Content and RTÉ.