I propose to take Questions Nos. 359 and 360 together.
My Department currently supports an ambitious National Regeneration Programme and a record €121 million in exchequer funding has been made available for projects under this programme in 2008. Works are under way in number of these projects, namely Ballymun in Dublin City, Laurel Avenue in Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown and Knocknaheeny and the Glen in Cork City. This funding also includes long-standing agreements to support redevelopment works within inner city flat complexes in Dublin City and a number of estates in Waterford City.
Other regeneration schemes are proposed in Limerick City, Sligo Town, Tralee and Dundalk and the authorities in question are in the process of developing their master plans. Under the procedures for the regeneration of local authority estates, a fully costed and detailed master plan outlining the required actions for the social, economic, and physical regeneration of the area is submitted to my Department for approval. It is difficult to ascertain the exact level of activity or timeframes involved in advance of an agreed master plan. In addition to regeneration schemes that are funded in the main by the exchequer, there are a number of PPP regeneration projects at various stages of procurement and development which have not been approved by the Department to commence development and for which only indicative numbers are available. In other instances, housing PPP projects that have been approved do not involve the regeneration of existing local authority estates.
For the regeneration schemes, including PPP regeneration, where work is ongoing, the following information is available:
Ballymun: at the beginning of the regeneration process in 1998, the Ballymun estate comprised 2,814 flats and 1,987 local authority houses, of which 985 had been purchased under tenant purchase arrangements. The regeneration process involved the demolition of the flats and some 80 houses, of which approximately 2,300 were occupied in 1998, and replacing them with high quality housing. Under current plans, the regeneration programme will deliver 2,288 new social houses, 436 new voluntary and co-operative houses, and 2,617 new private dwellings in addition to the 1,907 houses previously built. The scheduled completion date for the regeneration is 2012. It is anticipated that there will be some remaining sites that could be used to deliver further private and affordable housing.
Laurel Avenue: Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council continues to support the regeneration of Laurel Avenue which saw the original estate of 61 social units (19 occupied) demolished to make way for 77 new social houses and apartments. This project is expected to be completed by Autumn this year.
Knocknaheeny: The Knocknaheeny regeneration involves some 874 houses of which 860 were occupied at the publication of the master plan. The plan proposed 1,124 social, and 20 affordable houses. The scheduled completion date for this project is 2010.
The Glen: The master plan for this regeneration identified 652 units (including 234 flats) for regeneration. Of these some 526 were occupied. Phases one and two of the project will deliver 642 regenerated social units. Phase two of the project is expected to be delivered by 2011. Phase three is still at the planning stage and the distribution of the housing units as social, affordable, and private has yet to be determined.
Fatima Mansions: This has involved the complete regeneration of 364 inner city flats with a socially disadvantaged community, into a vibrant new development at the centre of the city. The completed regeneration of Fatima Mansions will see 615 new dwellings, 150 of which are social housing, some 400 are private houses with the remainder being affordable housing. In addition substantial community and commercial facilities are being provided on the site. Phase 1 of the scheme has been completed, with the second and final phase due for completion by the end of 2009.
O'Devaney Gardens: The regeneration of O'Devaney Gardens will involve the regeneration of 272 social dwellings, of which 186 are occupied. At completion the project will deliver 281 social housing units, 250 affordable and 292 private units as well as community and commercial facilities. The timing of this regeneration is subject to the resolution of issues which have arisen during the procurement process.