Batt O'Keeffe (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

I acknowledge the Deputy's interest in raising this matter, which was also raised with me by the Minister of State, Deputy Brendan Smith. The Mullaghmatt housing estate in Monaghan town has been designated for funding under my Department's remedial works scheme. I am strongly committed to regeneration and remedial works programmes. The first phase of the Mullmaghmatt redevelopment, which is currently under way, involves the refurbishment of 25 rented houses and some works to six tenant purchased houses at an estimated cost of over €2 million.

The extensive refurbishment of the rented houses includes the provision of new windows and doors, installation of central heating and associated insulation and rewiring. Effectively, these houses will be brought up to modern standards. I understand work is well advanced on the project and this phase will be complete by the end of August.

It is normal practice in refurbishment schemes of this size that a pilot or an initial phase is undertaken to test the efficacy of the works proposed. A report is then prepared by the local authority for its own assessment and for subsequent submission to my Department for consideration with regard to progression to further phases. Monaghan Town Council will shortly prepare an evaluation report on the first phase of the regeneration of Mullaghmatt in conjunction with the National Building Agency, which is the council's consultant on the project. The evaluation report will cover a number of issues, including whether the works carried out have adequately addressed the problems presented in the estate and identify the implications for the remaining phases. The cost effectiveness of the refurbishment works undertaken will also be subject to critical evaluation.

The extent of tenant satisfaction associated with improvements in the management of the estate will be an important feature of how the overall project will advance. The timeline for the implementation of further phases of remedial works to remaining houses in the estate is a matter to be determined by the town council in conjunction with my Department in light of the outcome of the initial phase of implementation.

I would like to address an issue that has been raised by the Deputy and others in respect of work on tenant purchased private houses in the estate. It is a condition of the remedial works scheme that tenant purchasers of houses in a remedial works project may be included in a project where it is considered by the local authority that the undertaking of external works to these dwellings is necessary to avoid an unacceptable or incongruous result to the refurbishment of the estate as a whole. Eligible work to tenant purchased houses is confined to the exterior elevation of the houses and would typically include the provision of new windows and doors, replacement of facias and soffits and new boundary walls.

Tenant purchasers are required under the scheme to contribute 50% of the cost of eligible works to their houses. There are no proposals to alter the terms of the scheme with regard to contributions from tenant purchasers. The Deputy will recognise that these are now privately owned houses. It is a matter for the town council at local level to secure the participation of any private householders on the basis that they make a 50% contribution to improvement works to the front of their houses. I hope the Deputy will acknowledge this is a generous contribution to the rejuvenation of privately owned houses.

I assure the Deputy that I support the regeneration of this particular estate. However, an evaluation of the first phase is necessary in order to ensure that the refurbishment work properly addresses the various problems in the estate before proceeding to the next phase of redevelopment. I will ask the National Building Agency and the town council to report to my Department on their experience of the first phase and their proposals for the further redevelopment of the estate. I assure the Deputy that my Department has supported the redevelopment of this estate.

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