The Sisters of Charity, who ran a number of industrial schools criticised in the report of the Ryan Commission on Child Abuse, are among several religious orders who are planning to have lands they own rezoned for development, the Sunday Tribune has learned.In a move which could significantly increase the value of the lands in question, the order has identified three separate parcels of lands for potential rezoning in Dublin.
These are located in Sandymount, Harold's Cross and Walkinstown.
A spokeswoman for the order has confirmed that all of the sites will be included in an independent audit of property which the religious orders last week agreed to provide to Taoiseach Brian Cowen.
As a result, this suggests that the money earned from the lands in question, with or without a potentially valuable rezoning decision, could eventually form part of any additional compensation paid by the order to victims of abuse.
The order wants the land rezoned from long-term institutional use to land with future development potential. During the boom, this would have increased the land's value by about 15%.
The Sisters of Charity ran a total of five industrial schools, including St Joseph's and St Patrick's in Kilkenny and a group home, Madonna House, in Dublin.
Asked about the submission to Dublin City Council's consultation process for the 2011-2017 City Development Plan, a spokeswoman for the order said it was made as part of a "general invitation" from Dublin City Council for people to comment on the draft development plan.
"Sisters of Charity wish to clearly state there is no immediate intention to dispose of the convent on the Sandymount site or any of the other land," she said.
"These lands and everything we own will be included in the audit of property we give to An Taoiseach."
Other submissions to the council include one from the Jesuit Order, which wants to rezone Milltown Park in Ranelagh, and another from the Redemptorists, who want their eight-acre Marianella site in Rathgar rezoned.
On the north side of the city, The Sisters of the Holy Faith, who own 24.7 acres of land on the Old Finglas Road in Glasnevin, also want their land rezoned.
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