Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

Has the Cabinet committee on housing infrastructure and public-private partnership set new terms of reference or has it a new programme of work, given the changed situation in terms of housing and the economy generally since it was first established? Will it carry out any assessment of need in the context of housing stock, with a particular focus on the need for social housing across the economy? Will it deal with the long-promised regeneration plan in, for example, Dublin? There was to have been undertaken a significant regeneration plan under the aegis of private developers via PPPs who subsequently collapsed. I refer specially to St. Michael's estate, St. Theresa's Gardens, O'Devaney Gardens and Dominick Street. Given the serious impact of the collapse of these planned regeneration schemes, will the Taoiseach ask the Cabinet committee to address this matter and to report to him and to the Minister with responsibility and that it would be reflected in the House?

While the Minister for Defence is at the Taoiseach's side, does the latter not also believe it to be important for the Cabinet committee to address what I sadly understand to be the now scuttled regeneration plan for Limerick? Some €1.7 billion was proposed to be committed to the regeneration of communities in the Limerick area that have suffered marginalisation and a lack of investment and resourcing over many years. I am referring specifically to Moyross, Southill, Ballinacurra Weston and St. Mary's Park, all of which are familiar to the Minister. I agree with the comments of the Minister, Deputy O'Dea, regarding that regeneration programme. He stated that it was vital not only for the future development of Limerick city, but for the entire mid-west region. Certainly that is the case.

Will the Taoiseach indicate that the Cabinet committee on housing infrastructure and PPP will address these serious matters? Does he agree that, where we are trying to create real jobs, these regeneration projects offer significant opportunity within the construction sector? Not only would they have considerable benefits for their respective communities, but they would also make a large contribution to the great numbers of people in the construction sector who have found themselves on the dole queues. Such an initiative in both of these incidences - Dublin and Limerick - would be of enormous benefit.

See this speech in context