Philip Ryan: 'Our Dublin-focused housing policy will eventually lead to social unrest'

The newly-appointed chair of the State's new land agency aims to bring radical reforms, writes Philip Ryan

John Moran, chair of the Land Development Agency, in Limerick, where he developed his new vision of urban life. Photo: Oisin McHugh True Media

Philip Ryan

As the 8am train to Limerick passed by the Clondalkin Station on the outskirts of Dublin, John Moran pointed out the window of the carriage and asked: "Why are there no houses there?"

What irked Moran were the acres of undeveloped rolling green fields surrounding a train station less than 15 minutes from the city centre.