Dunne family housing plan given go-ahead

DEVELOPER Sean Dunne's children have been granted permission by An Bord Pleanala to turn a residential apartment block into student housing.

The businessman's children, Stephen, Sean and Elaine Dunne, wanted to turn eight apartments at Merrion Grove, Stillorgan, Co Dublin, into a dormitory for students. However, local residents objected to the plans.

The case went to the Circuit Civil Court, which ruled last month that the development could proceed. Yesterday, An Bord Pleanala also granted permission.

The court heard the apartments were part of an eight-apartment block which had been bought by Mr Dunne's company, Mountbrook Homes, under tax-break legislation for the benefit of the Dunne family.

The block was part of a nine-block development of 124 duplex apartments and houses at Merrion Grove and the Dunnes wanted to convert six of the apartments into student accommodation to serve nearby UCD. Mr Dunne was the original developer of the complex, he bought the eight apartments for his children.

Irish Independent