A row has broken out between the National Council of the Blind and the Sisters of Charity, over the order's plans to dispose of lands at a home for the blind in Dublin. The council has written to the nuns asking them to reconsider the decision, which includes the proposed sale by tender of 14.5 acres at Merrion Road, expected to raise more than £35 million.
In a statement yesterday, the council said it was "disappointed and angered" that the order had no plans for using any of the proceeds to provide for blind children and adults, who have a long connection with the site via St Mary's school and home for the blind.
The Sisters of Charity confirmed it had received the council's letter yesterday, but would make no other comment. However, a spokeswoman said it was a matter of record that the land being sold was not used by either the school or home, but was an adjoining greenfield site.
She said the order had bought the land in the 1860s, contrary to a claim by the council that the site had "passed into the ownership of the sisters for the expressed purpose of caring for blind girls and women".
The council said the land was bought by the order with money from a conditional bequest by the 19th-century campaigner for the blind, Mgr William Yore.
It has also asked the Minister for Justice, Mr O'Donoghue, for religious orders be made accountable for the disposal and transfer of assets in the same way as lay charities.
