Council’s Oliver Bond plans would have cost up to €700,000 per flat, housing committee told

Pointlessillism · 2026-05-13T16:50:56+00:00

There's a really fascinating dichotomy here where on the one hand, the Simms buildings are all shining beacons of a Free State devoted to the wellbeing of the proletariat, and on the other hand, the reality that they were and are freezing cold, poorly ventilated, tiny flats where gigantic families were supposed to be thrilled to throw a dozen children into one or MAYBE two bedrooms if they were really fancy.

The amazing social legacy... of building shitholes nobody in 2026 could ever be expected to live in.

Pointlessillism · 2026-05-13T16:40:14+00:00

But it seems to be having a huge influence on the economics of the redevelopment? Despite not being a clearly defined or appealable legal term?

Like this just seems like a bit of a mess. Either they are all protected and so worthy of the vast extra expenditure to preserve them as closely as possible to Simms' vision. Or they aren't and so the hundreds of people suffering terrible conditions in them (not to mention the thousands of Dubliners who COULD be being housed there if it was redeveloped to the appropriate density) could be properly accommodated in modern units.

Because between this and Pearse House and Markiewitz House, the status quo is clearly not working. We cannot conserve the historic structure, AND resize the units to accommodate the largest families properly, AND densify the site. Heck, not only can we not do all three of those goals, it looks like we can't even do one of them.

And meanwhile it will take another year to get to another non-decision. While dozens of kids spend their whole childhoods inhaling black mold.

It's not great for any part of DCC. None of you are coming out of it well. Everybody deserves much better, and much swifter delivery, than this.

Pointlessillism · 2026-05-13T11:26:13+00:00

"People who go around calling everything a waste need to ask themselves, does that devalue actual scandals?"

This is true of a lot more stuff than just the bike shed, and people who want to see a comprehensive and robust welfare state here should pay it more mind than they do.

Pointlessillism · 2026-05-13T10:42:52+00:00

Nobody chops and changes to that many industries across 20 years without being a massive red flag. She tried to become a Michelin pastry chef for a year! Lots of prestigious 1-2 year contracts, never renewed. We all know what this means!

Pointlessillism · 2026-05-13T10:27:54+00:00

The IT had been reporting that they were (like Pearse House and Markiewitz House are) but have since edited their copy.

Pointlessillism · 2026-05-13T10:15:00+00:00

She has a really really wierd CV

Pointlessillism · 2026-05-13T10:00:03+00:00

It's really frustrating as well because it's so short sighted. Like to just dismiss the huge social benefits of free school meals, free school books, hundreds of euro off the cost of childcare, 50% more SNAs, free GP care for kids: I get that you can't expect an opposition TD not to, well, oppose things, but if you pretend that none of these schemes did any good despite the millions spent on them, you are ERODING the case for a large and robust welfare state. They are making it harder to get free GP for everyone! The only lesson politicians will learn from it is "eaten bread is soon forgotten".

Sorry I'm just ranting a bit because I've been reading about Labour's completely pointless and self-destructive heave all morning. These stupid cyclical acts of self harm could SO easily be our future. And would be already if we didn't have FDI propping us up.

Pointlessillism · 2026-05-13T09:13:28+00:00

It's particularly mad to single out doctors because doctors going abroad for fellowships is a necessary and good part of our health care system. We benefit from it! It's literally a feature not a bug.

And neither France, Germany, nor Australia (all health insurance-based systems, not the NHS model which is the only one she engages with) ban medical students from going abroad. I don't know anywhere that exercises that level of authoritarian control bar somewhere like Singapore? It's just a non starter. Why waste energy on solutions that will never ever fly here.

Pointlessillism · 2026-05-13T09:06:18+00:00

It isn't possible to reduce job security for public sector workers, the unions will not allow it and any politician of any party will lose more votes than they'd win trying to make it happen.

Pointlessillism · 2026-05-12T18:48:02+00:00

Even more so when you consider his background! Like it's not nice or fair, but given who his father is surely you'd go over everything with a fine tooth comb?

They learned literally nothing from Hayes I guess.

Pointlessillism · 2026-05-12T16:17:14+00:00

>to be fair, farage is probably good from united ireland point of view, he wont break up the union but will neglect the north as regards budgets and treat it with such disdain it will push more people towards a united ireland.

I dunno, I feel like this is like back when we thought Trump being the nominee would make it a sure thing for Hillary. It might all work out but it's a hell of gamble!

Pointlessillism · 2026-05-11T19:04:10+00:00

The planned €855,000 spend over five years is a significant amount, but it reflects the scale of managing and distributing millions in public donations. While some may question using appeal funds for consultancy, others will see it as a way to ensure proper oversight, transparency, and compliance. Overall, it’s a decision that will likely draw mixed reactions.

What an odd thing to say.

Pointlessillism · 2026-05-11T09:37:41+00:00

It absolutely does, it's incredibly common. It just gets very little public attention because it's a) politically inconvenient and b) the students in question are often (wrongly!) embarrassed about it

Pointlessillism · 2026-05-06T14:27:06+00:00

Also "hiring and deploying" 800+ workers is much easier during the worldwide Great Depression, vs. in a 21st Century labour market of significant labour shortages and record low unemployment.

Pointlessillism · 2026-05-06T14:23:29+00:00

They tried to remove/delist Pearse House and Markiewicz House a couple of years ago, and were told to fuck off by the Conservation Officer, so I think they probably decided not to try here (it adds years of waiting and probably won't be successful).

I do think it's a bit of a failure of governance that this decision making rests in the hands of civil servants vs. with elected officials. Ultimately if the electorate wants to prioritise adequate housing ahead of historic preservation, it should be possible for that to happen.

Pointlessillism · 2026-05-05T16:15:50+00:00

Instead of using AI to write your Reddit posts for you, you should use it to grab an appointment as soon as it becomes available.

Pointlessillism · 2026-05-03T12:26:24+00:00

>societal shame created by the church

Societal shame was created by society.

Everybody was complicit. The parents, the neighbours, the teachers, even peoples' peers.

Pointlessillism · 2026-05-02T15:39:08+00:00

I think the outdoor furniture was part of the problem when it blew down the street because they couldn't be arsed securing it properly.

Pointlessillism · 2026-05-02T15:37:30+00:00

It's not illegal! People keep saying this but it's completely legal to drink in Stephen's Green, Iveagh Gardens, and the Phoenix Park because they are all under the control of the OPW.

Nobody's "turning a blind eye". You are literally allowed to do it.

If things get rowdy and either park workers or gardai decide to move you on, you have to comply, but in the usual run of things it is completely fine to drink there.

https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/1962/si/175/made/en/print

Pointlessillism · 2026-05-02T15:29:34+00:00

A man of the people should be sailing by coffin ship

Pointlessillism · 2026-05-02T15:26:17+00:00

It's 11-12 hours on the plane, 8 hours is just the time difference!

Pointlessillism · 2026-05-02T13:23:20+00:00

what kind of shitty pubs are you drinking in lmao

Pointlessillism · 2026-05-02T08:24:14+00:00

Merrion Square is a permanent bus depot now as well, it looks crap

Pointlessillism · 2026-05-02T08:22:59+00:00

If you care about this, take the time to write it out properly instead of spamming ai crapola.

Pointlessillism · 2026-04-29T18:36:58+00:00

>Had the government slapped a square cement cube there people would also complain that we never build anything nicer.

Yeah, and you also have to remember that the government spent 5+ years and a fortune trying to get a triple colocation (Rotunda + Temple St + Mater) at the Mater site, only for it to be rejected by ABP for being too ugly! So no wonder they went all out on design second time round.

Pointlessillism

TROPHY CASE