Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It might be a bit crowded but Christmas is a time people should spend together.

There have been several housing initiatives in Dublin South Central such as the de-tenanting of Teresa’s Gardens involving over 400 families. All these people have been reallocated. There are 18 families left there. Over 60 units were refurbished and set aside for those people who wanted to remain in Teresa’s Gardens until the new houses were built. Demolition has started on some of the blocks. Hopefully by the beginning of the year some houses will be built. I could go on about Dolphin House and Thornton Heights, and the new 76 units on the old St. Michael’s Estate site. The Lord Mayor, Críona Ní Dhálaigh, today turned the sod on new senior citizens’ units in Avonmore Crescent. There will be 70 apartments there. Flats in a very derelict complex in Basin Street, Oliver Bond Flats and Tyrone Place have been refurbished and people have been housed there. Deputy Ó Snodaigh and I were at the opening of 19 new apartments in Bluebell recently by the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Kelly. I welcome the fact that today work will begin again on the modular housing project in Ballymun. People say they are only temporary homes but if the 22 families living in hotel rooms will more than welcome having them for Christmas.

We need to consider building more senior citizen units. There are many elderly people in houses who cannot mind them. A survey done by Father Michael at Fr. Bidone Court in Ballyfermot showed that 47 older people would like to move into senior citizen units and see their family homes back into use for families.

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