Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 23 June 2022
35. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans for the regeneration of social housing and flat complexes in inner city of Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32979/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is committed to ensuring that 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. My 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 themselves in respect of their own housing stock, my Department provides funding across a number of programmes to support the local authority work to maintain and improve their social housing stock. In all cases, it is the local authorities that identify priorities.
Following on from reviews of the conditions of their older flat complexes and based on the need to modernise the living conditions and as part of their climate action plans, Dublin City Council are developing a long term strategy for the redevelopment and/or refurbishment of many of these complexes. I also understand the Council has identified 96 of these older flat complexes for redevelopment and/or refurbishment in the years 2022 to 2030.
A large number of these flat complexes will be effectively rebuilt while others will be refurbished and in some cases will need amalgamations (i.e. two in one) due to the sizes of some homes. My Department is considering the most appropriate funding streams to enable these refurbishment/ regeneration/replacement projects and will work with Dublin City Council to progress.
My Department has provided Stage 1 Capital Appraisal approval for the refurbishment/replacement of Pearse House Phase 1, Constitution Hill, Matt Talbot Court, Bluebell Phase 1A, Liberties Cluster Phase 1 and Oliver Bond House, Glover’s Court and Stage 2 Approval for St. Mary’s Dorset St. My Department is also currently assessing a submission in respect of a Pilot Amalgamation Project in Ballybough House.
My Department looks forward to working with DCC on these important projects.
