Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)

I thank Deputy Donohoe for raising this issue. As he is aware, regeneration is a matter in which I have a particular interest. I wish to begin by restating my commitment and that of my Department and the Government to the national regeneration programme. My Department supports an ambitious range of regeneration projects which seek to address the causes of disadvantage in communities and large social housing estates through a holistic programme of physical, social and economic regeneration. Of the €390 million available to me under the 2012 housing programme, I have set aside some €90 million - 23% of the total - to progress regeneration projects in 2012, including that at Dominick Street.

As the Deputy is aware, Dublin City Council previously intended carrying out the redevelopment of Dominick Street by way of a public private partnership. Under these arrangements, it was intended to deliver a significant mixed-use development at no net cost to the Exchequer. However, by late 2008 the downturn in the housing market and wider economic conditions had made the original plans for the public private partnership project unviable. With support from my Department, the council established a multidisciplinary special housing task force to examine alternative redevelopment options. As a result of this process, the council developed a proposal for a mixed-use development at Dominick Street to include 58 housing units, seven commercial units, a new community centre with a multi-purpose hall and related facilities, a covered sports pitch and 3,525 sq. m of public realm improvement works locally. An Bord Pleanála granted planning permission for the proposed development on 22 May last.

The next step in this process will be the preparation of a detailed proposal by Dublin City Council for submission to my Department. I expect this submission will build on the good work done by the council in consultation with the local community and regeneration boards and will address the social, economic and physical regeneration needs of the community in the area. I have allocated over €40 million to regeneration projects in Dublin this year, some €15 million of which is earmarked for regeneration projects including Dominick Street, Croke Villas, O'Devaney Gardens, Saint Theresa's Gardens, Saint Michael's Estate and Dolphin House. Dublin City Council continues to operate a de-tenanting strategy, with the support of the Department, for the relocation of households out of the regeneration areas to facilitate the demolition of vacant buildings. Of the funding available to Dublin City Council in 2012 approximately €7 million has been assigned for this purpose. I anticipate that demolition works on some of the flat blocks in the Dominick Street complex will commence later this year.

Now that the statutory planning element has been dealt with, it is a matter for the city council to prepare the detailed regeneration plan for the Dominick Street complex and to set out how this will be delivered over the next few years. Given its strategic location, I expect that there will be considerable private sector interest in the commercial element of the project. There is potential to involve approved housing bodies in the residential and community elements and also, in the interests of furthering the sustainable communities agenda, to make some housing units available for private purchase or for purchase under the incremental purchase scheme. In the meantime, my Department will liaise closely with the city council in finalising the detailed plans and will continue to provide funding for ongoing regeneration work locally.

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