Cyprian Brady (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

I welcome the opportunity to speak on this motion as the majority of the projects affected by the collapse of these PPPs are in my constituency. In spite of very difficult circumstances, these communities have continued to grow and remain strong and close today. Public private partnerships were put forward five years ago as an effective way to regenerate the social living conditions of these Dublin City Council tenants. The communities bought into this process and contributed hugely to it, by bringing it forward to the detailed design stage in most cases. While no contracts were signed for the Dominick Street regeneration project, the demolition of several blocks had taken place already and the tenants had looked forward to progress being made. Detenanting had begun in O'Devaney Gardens and people in the community had invested much of their time in reaching the point of detailed design. Expectations in all these complexes were extremely high.

The current position is unacceptable. It is not right that Dublin City Council and a developer can put financial and administrative issues in front of the tenants' concerns. It is also worrying for people in other flat complexes around the city who were hoping for work to take place in their areas. I accept that the Minister and the Department are conscious of the plight of the tenants in these complexes, but some issues need to be tackled immediately. The residents must be fully consulted and must be involved in efforts that are being made to resolve the situation. Dublin City Council, in consultation with the tenants, must continue to progress the scheme of transfers and rehousing that has already begun in most of these projects, and any tenant who wishes to move should be accommodated as a matter of priority. While decisions are being made on the future of these projects, it is essential that Dublin City Council continues to improve the scheme of maintenance, cleansing and security in the complexes. There was an incident in O'Devaney Gardens last night which contributes to the stress and strain on tenants in this area.

Other complexes in the city have been reassured that any regeneration in planning is given priority when decisions on capital budgets are being made and that consideration has been given to how the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and Dublin City Council can proceed with the developments at Dominick Street and O'Devaney Gardens, be it as a PPP or as a local authority development. Tenants have invested so much time and effort in these projects that it is only right that decisions made on their future must be considered. It is essential that the momentum that has built up over the past few years is continued and that we do not start to go backwards.

We have seen that PPPs have worked, for example in the docklands. The public and private sectors have come together under the auspices of the Dublin Docklands Development Authority and high class, modern accommodation has been provided to city council tenants, private individuals and individuals under the affordable housing scheme. Therefore, PPPs work if they are managed properly.

People have bought into this process and have given up their personal time and even sometimes the opportunity to move on. They decided to stick it out on the basis that agreement would be reached, the facilities and services promised would be provided and the accommodation promised would be adequate. We cannot turn around and tell these people that they have to start again. Much work has gone into this and much money has been spent on this process to date. Whether the projects continue as public private partnerships or the Department intervenes with Dublin City Council, it is only right that any of the plans or designs discussed to date should continue to be used. The regeneration projects in many complexes have been brought to an advanced stage. They cannot be undone and must be progressed. The immediate problem with the five particular regeneration projects is an issue. However, the wider issue is how Dublin City Council does business as a local authority and how communities can be involved in the regeneration process. It must be recognised many communities have become involved in the consultation process. I look forward to the Minister seeing what is happening in these projects. Some of these estates were left deteriorate over the past several years because of a promise of a regeneration project. It is only fitting these communities are consulted and given every consideration for whatever future decisions are made.

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