Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 12 Jul 2023

Vol. 1042 No. 1

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla (Atógáil) - Topical Issue Debate (Resumed)

Housing Schemes

Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

I thank the Minister of State for taking this matter, which relates to an issue over which residents of the Noonan's Road area are tearing their hair out. We talk about Noonan's Road, but we are really talking about the few flats just off it as well, in St. Finbarr's Road and other locations. Noonan's Road is the main thoroughfare in the area and was developed in the 1960s and 1970s after the lanes and tenements that had existed there were cleared. The area has never seen any real remediation in that time. In conversations with Cork City Council about maintenance requests for that ward of the city, this area and these apartments dominate.

If the Minister of State visits Cork over the coming months, I would love for him to meet the residents and see the desperate condition of these apartments. They are damp and cold and it is becoming clear there has been only tinkering around the edges. There have been numerous applications to the city council from the apartments and a lot of them have been turned down, although there has been a lot of back-and-forth between the Department and the council over the course of the past year and a half, since Deputy Gould and I last raised this with the Minister of State, Deputy Noonan, in December 2021. At that time, there was an indication there was some back-and-forth with the council about funding, but it is now becoming apparent that tinkering around the edges is not going to do the job and that it needs full-scale regeneration.

The residents are organised and handed in a petition to Cork City Council on Monday. I commend them on what they are doing. What we need to hear from central government is that when Cork City Council comes with a serious proposal for full regeneration, the Department will fund it.

Deputy Thomas Gould

I agree with my party colleague Deputy Ó Laoghaire. We have been dealing with the residents of Noonan's Road for years, but even before that, the residents of Noonan's Road and St. Finbarr's Road had been promised works on their flats for years, with very little done. These flats were built in a bygone time. We have to move beyond that now. Deputy Ó Laoghaire and I are looking for full regeneration, similar to other regeneration projects, where the flats would be knocked down and the residents would be moved elsewhere locally. Cork City Council now has two developments in the area, where houses that will be built could allow the residents to come back. That is happening in other areas that are being regenerated.

On Monday night, a petition was handed in. I mention in particular William O'Brien, who is organising the residents, and Sinn Féin councillor Fiona Kerins, who has raised this matter numerous times with Cork City Council. The houses are cold, damp and full of mould. These are very proud people who love their community and love where they live. They do not want to leave it but they cannot live in these conditions.

In 2019, energy efficiency monitors were put on some of those houses but we have never got the results of the report. Why was the report not released to the residents and councillors? This is a wonderful community. A bit of retrofitting or maintenance work will not do it. The flats are not fit for purpose. They need urgent regeneration action now. If this were a private landlord, they would not get away with keeping tenants in these conditions. Will the Minister of State commit to funding a full regeneration project for Noonan's Road, St. Finbarr's Road and the surrounding areas?

Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs (Deputy Peter Burke)

I thank the Deputies for raising this important matter and am glad to have the opportunity to discuss the issue of housing conditions in Noonan’s Road in Cork’s inner city. The Government and the Department of Housing Local Government and Heritage are committed to ensuring tenants in social housing are provided with adequate housing that meets the standards most recently laid down in the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2019.

The Department is actively engaging with the local authority sector to promote the preventative maintenance of local authority housing stock and provides significant funding for stock improvement works. In addition to funding provided by the local authorities in respect of their own housing stock, the Department provides funding for a number of programmes to support the local authorities' work to maintain and improve their social housing stock. In all cases, it is the local authorities that identify priorities. The continued work of local authorities in undertaking stock condition surveys and their responsive and planned maintenance programmes, as well as important programmes such as the energy retrofitting and voids programmes, seek to support the local authority maintenance programme.

Cork City Council has advised the Department that this scheme was discussed at a recent council meeting and that councillors were briefed by the deputy chief executive on advancing a project to refurbish the homes in Noonan’s Road. Noonan’s Road comprises a number of properties dating from the 1960s, and Cork City Council has informed the Department that it recognises the scale of the challenge but also the significant potential of delivering the optimal solution for all of its tenants. The Department is aware Cork City Council has planned the refurbishment and upgrade of the Noonan’s Road housing development to include a deep energy retrofit programme and is cognisant of the residents’ concerns with regard to the longer term refurbishment and maintenance of the complex.

In that regard, Cork City Council has recently undertaken a detailed survey and assessment of the housing scheme in Noonan’s Road with a view to the progression of its refurbishment and upgrade. The council is reviewing the survey findings to consider next steps for the progression of sustainable and appropriate solutions to the housing development in Noonan’s Road.

While the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage has not yet received a funding application, the Minister and his officials very much look forward to receipt of this submission from the council in this regard and will work closely with Cork City Council to ensure a sustainable solution is found for residents at Noonan’s Road.

Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

There is a bit in that. The Minister of State said the Department is waiting on an application from the city council. I suppose that is true and I will come back to that. The first thing I want to say is that I appreciate that he and the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, are busy people. However, I am sure they will be in Cork at some stage over the course of the next year. The Minister likes to come down when there are positive developments. If he is in Cork in the next couple of months, I want him, or the Minister of State, to visit Noonan's Road because they need to see the condition of this place. They are a really strong and proud community but what they have been asked to live with is completely unfair.

I spoke to Councillor Fiona Kerins this morning and she recalls being at a meeting in 2003 or 2004. That is how long this has been going on. The work that has happened in that time has been very limited to individual houses and apartments here and there. The Department has a number of streams of funding, the largest of which is to do with retrofitting. What kind of funding stream is there for regeneration beyond retrofitting? Is a scheme available from which funding can be pulled? Will the Minister of State tell us more about that?

Deputy Thomas Gould

The Minister of State spoke about preventative maintenance, planned maintenance and deep retrofitting. There has been no planned maintenance or preventative maintenance done in Cork sine I became a councillor in 2009. There has been none. The Minister of State came in here and gave us an answer. There has been no funding to Cork City Council for those works to be carried out. I remember being chair of the housing committee in Cork City Council and being told it would be every three years. Then, I was told it was every five years, and then, because of cuts due to the financial crisis, there was no maintenance. It is time now to stop messing around.

This affects not only people on Noonan's Road but those in Clashduv, Dean Street, Cattle Market Avenue and others. I will give the Minister of State one example. A similar flat complex on Baker's Road was retrofitted approximately ten or 12 years ago and it is now back in the same condition. There is only one answer here and that is full regeneration of that area. As Deputy Ó Laoghaire said the next time the Minister of State is in Cork, he, or the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, needs to come and see what these people are living in.

Deputy Peter Burke

As I said in my response, the Department has not yet received a funding application for this particular project. Obviously, we cannot ascertain or put a figure on what needs to be done when we have not received the application from the city council. I suggest the Deputies talk to their counterparts in Cork City Council and get that application into the Department.

Nursing Homes

Deputy Catherine Connolly

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit. Tá a fhios agam nach bhfuil an tAire Stáit sa Roinn Sláinte in ann a bheith anseo inniu. Is mór an trua é sin ach tuigim go bhfuil cruinniú aici.

Tá orm an t-ábhar seo a ardú arís agus arís. Bhreathnaigh mé siar ar cé chomh minic is atá sé ardaithe agam agus cuireann sé alltacht orm i ndáiríre go bhfuil mé fós ag caint faoi Áras Mhic Dara i gcroílár na Gaeltachta, ionad lae atá dúnta anois ó am Covid. Tá na cúiseanna taobh thiar den áit a bheith dúnta ag athrú an t-am uilig - easpa foirne, easpa éilimh agus modúl nua. An uair dheireanach, dúirt mé go raibh sé thar a bheith deacair gan a bheith éadóchasach ó thaobh na bhfreagraí atá á fháil againn. Tá mé sa chás ceannann céanna inniu. Ag dul siar cúpla seachtain, bhí cruinniú poiblí i gConamara maidir leis an ábhar seo agus d’fhreastail cúpla céad duine air. Ní raibh na Teachtaí Dála a bhí ann in ann a mhíniú dóibh cén fáth go raibh an t-ionad lae seo fós dúnta. Ní rabhamar in ann agus bhí sé sin an-deacair dúinne mar Theachtaí Dála nuair atá ionad chomh riachtanach leis seo dúnta.

Unfortunately, faraor géar, I must raise the continued closure of the day centre in Connemara. I raised it as a Topical Issue matter a few months ago and previously under Questions on Policy or Legislation. I have raised it everywhere. When I look back, I am sure I am going to get the same answer from the Minister of State today although I really hope not. I know he is in a difficult position and that the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, cannot be here today. I had the choice of not taking this Topical Issue matter today but I chose to take because it is so important.

The ongoing closure of the day centre is simply unacceptable. I ask the Minister of State if he could depart from the script if it is no different from the previous script. At some stage, we need human intervention here from Ministers and the Government if the explanations keep changing. We are in the middle of a Gaeltacht area and this is what we are being told by representatives. I have a presentation in my hands - look at the size of this file. We got a wonderful presentation on Zoom and we were told it was going to open in April. April came and went; it was an April Fool, presumably. Then, May came and we were told it was going to open, and they managed to open it for one day and then closed it. They told us there was no demand. We are talking about a day centre for elderly people that everyone attended before Covid-19 . We were told there were not enough staff and then that it was for infection reasons. Then we were told there is a whole new model of social care.

As somebody at the meeting said, they are actually telling elderly people they would want to be able to run the city marathon before they can attend a day centre that is under the social care model because they have to be able to entirely look after themselves, take their medication and so on. That is the social care model, which is not suitable. I have no difficulty with it, but it is not suitable for the people we are talking about. They opened the centre for a day and nobody knew it was open. They did not tell the radio or the newspapers.

We now have a situation where HIQA representatives have visited three times in recent years. The last one gave it a glowing report with regard to the nursing care. Unfortunately, this time and the previous time, they did not even mention the day centre, which is of great concern to me. It is underutilised as well in terms of the bed capacity. It is getting a glowing report from the staff and residents. However, it is underutilised as a nursing home and as a day centre; it is non-existent.

What am I really doing as the end of term approaches? I am appealing to the Minister of State on a human level. I ask that he please not read out a script to me if it is the exact same answer as the last time. I understand his difficulties and that he is standing in for another Minister of State. He might please tell me, in his opinion, whether this is acceptable.

Deputy Peter Burke

I am sure the Deputy will appreciate that I am not a Minister of State in that Department. Therefore, it is very difficult for me to come into this Chamber and depart from a script when I am not over the issue. I would appreciate if we could be fair on the issue.

On behalf of the Minister of State with responsibility for mental health and older people, I assure Deputy Connolly that the Government has been driving important reform initiatives, working to deliver on the objectives of Sláintecare and building the capacity of our health service to address the changing needs of our growing and ageing population.

A key focus of our Sláintecare reform programme is recognising the need to enable older people to age well at home and in their communities for as long as possible with the correct wraparound supports. Older people want to age well at home and it is important the supports they need are in place, including wraparound services like home support, day services and meals on wheels.

There should be no doubt that investment in social care and home support has been a substantial priority for me and the Government. In May, the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, announced the allocation of €5.25 million funding for meals on wheels and day centres for older people to organisations throughout the country. In addition to this, a further €2.1 million was secured for dementia-specific community day services. Access to centres can make an important contribution to our goal to support older people to age in place in their communities by providing invaluable support, advice and social interaction for older people who may, for any number of reasons, be experiencing isolation and loneliness.

As the Deputy is aware, the Health Service Executive has operational responsibility for planning, managing and delivering health and personal social services. A wide range of core services are provided for older persons, including home support, day care and community supports in partnership with voluntary groups and intermediate care as well as long-stay residential care when remaining at home is no longer feasible. These services are fundamental to the health and well-being of our older population.

The Minister of State, Deputy Butler, is committed to working alongside HSE Community Healthcare West to ensure those who need to access health services can avail of such services within their community. The HSE has provided reassurances that, as previously committed to and planned, it will provide a day service at Áras Mhic Dara that will cater for eight to ten people. An area within the centre has been identified for providing the service. It is planned that two healthcare support assistants will be employed when the day service is operational, with the support of a clinical nurse manager off site. A minimum of eight people is necessary to reopen this service.

To date, only one person has expressed an interest in the day centre. The HSE has advised the Department of Health that all communications regarding the day services were provided to the local public health nurses and GPs in the area. The HSE has further advised that the message was also broadcast through the local media and that local politicians in the area were informed.

The Minister of State, Deputy Butler, previously promised the Deputy that her officials would monitor the position. They will continue to engage with the chief officer in community healthcare west in respect of this matter.

Deputy Catherine Connolly

I am always fair or attempt to be. I realise the Minister of State is in a difficult position. However, he will understand the frustration I have outlined on behalf of the people. A day centre is closed and the reasons for that are constantly changing. We were told the place was not suitable. I welcome that there is now a commitment to open it in the nursing home. That is new. The position has been changing all the time. We have now been told that information was broadcast. That did not happen. The HSE opened the centre for a day without telling anyone and then said there was no demand. No attempt has been made to reach out to the area and talk to the people. The GP spoke at a public meeting for at least 20 minutes and outlined the great need for a day centre in the area. None of that seems to have taken hold with the HSE. I want to work with the HSE. In March or April when it made a presentation we were delighted a date was given for the day centre to re-open but it did not re-open. When I stand here agus frustrachas orm ó thaobh an ábhair seo agus go bhfuil an t-ionad fós dúnta, is ar son mhuintir an cheantair atá sin á dhéanamh agam. Bheadh sé i bhfad níos éasca gan an t-ábhar seo a ardú go rialta mar atá sé ardaithe agam. Ar a laghad, tá geallúintí anois go mbeidh an tseirbhís á oscailt arís laistigh den ionad agus go mbeidh foireann curtha ar fáil ach tá i bhfad níos mó oibre ag teastáil chun a chur in iúl do na daoine go bhfuil an tseirbhís ar fáil. This has to be resold to the people. They must be told that the day service is considered essential and will be available and functioning. An educational and communications programme is needed to let people know it is open and available.

Deputy Peter Burke

I note the Deputy's comments. I will raise the local issues with the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, including advising people of the process that is in play. As already stated, the Minister of State announced €5 million for day care centres and meals on wheels. This is pertinent, important and key for the local community. I will bring the matter to her attention. As I am not a Minister of State in the Department of Health, I cannot go into any further detail at the moment.

Cuireadh an Dáil ar fionraí ar 9.53 a.m. agus cuireadh tús leis arís ar 10.00 a.m.

Sitting suspended at 9.53 a.m. and resumed at 10.00 a.m.