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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 28 Nov 1990

Vol. 403 No. 2

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Local Authority Flat Complexes.

Gay Mitchell

Question:

22 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for the Environment if he will make capital moneys available to deal with the derelict state of many local authority flat complexes.

Local authorities are responsible for the management, maintenance and improvement of the rented dwellings and funding for these works must normally be provided from the authorities' own-resources. Limited funding may be available under the remedial works scheme to enable authorities to carry out major refurbishment projects in designated estates, including some flat complexes. This year, £15 million has been made available to local authorities under the scheme.

While agreeing that some money has been made available for the refurbishment of certain blocks of flats in Dublin's inner city, the Minister will be aware that there are lots of flats urgently in need of refurbishment, including Marrowbone Lane — which was shortlisted by the local authority some years ago and which has not been allocated a penny? Would the Minister agree that blocks of flats such as those in Bridgefoot Street and St. Teresa's Gardens are in dire need of central Government funding for refurbishment purposes and that, unless such money is forthcoming, the quality of life in those flats will continue to be deplorable, giving rise to the type of dereliction one observes, particularly in ground floor flats which have been vandalised and abandoned by tenants?

The Deputy is raising matters worthy of separate questions.

I do accept that we should do what we can to improve on funding in this area. That has been my policy for the last three years. It is interesting to remember that, for instance, in 1985 0.8 per cent of £1 million was the total sum provided for the remedial works scheme. Progressively I have increased that to £15 million this year. I would like to think I would be able to maintain it at that level of activity so that we could get rid of what the Deputy correctly described as a large number of dwellings in dire need of refurbishment. I would like to see the seven refurbishment projects at present in progress in this area of the city progress as speedily as possible so that we could finish them and then undertake the other necessary projects.

Would the Minister not agree that, having regard to the substantial reduction, on the capital side, in the provision of moneys for new housing from a general financial point of view that he has considerable room to manoeuvre. Has he any proposals to deal with the problem if he recognises there is a problem?

I accept that it would be wise to have improved management with tenants involvement and participation. It is interesting to note that this year the £51 million provided for social housing was quite a substantial increase on the money provided by the Government the previous year. It was £38 million the year before. One must take into consideration the increases I have been able to arrange for remedial works, from that very low base up to the £15 million this year, and I think we can continue with that scheme at that level of activity. It is not going to be easy to do that but we will in a short few years bring about a happy situation for the vast majority of these estates many of which, as the Deputy knows, are in need of refurbishment. The Minister is aware of that as well.

A very brief question, Deputy Byrne. I want to get on to Question No. 23 and other questions.

Will the Minister agree it is time he issued instructions to Dubin Corporation, and other local authorities, to prepare a proper estate management system under which tenants, and tenants' organisations, can be integrated into the running and management of their own estates? Will the Minister agree that this crucial link is missing, particularly given the relevance of refurbishment schemes costing millions of pounds such as those taking place in Oliver Bond House and Fatima Mansions? Is the Minister aware we need new management structures in place so that we will never have a repeat of such dwellings being allowed to run down.

I am happy to support the general thrust of what the Deputy said. Substantial money is being provided for the remedial works scheme in the Dublin area. Best value can be achieved under that scheme in the long run only if we have proper management and maintenance of those dwellings.

Does the Minister approve of the policy of involving tenants in management structures?

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