Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The decision on the complaint to the European Committee of Social Rights by the International Federation for Human Rights regarding social housing issues has just very recently been notified to the Government. It is appropriate that we now study the report and identify the responses required.

For quite a number of the points of the complaint, as lodged, the committee found there were no violations. That said, we take seriously those other aspects on which the complaint was upheld.

One of the findings of the report was in relation to the conditions in a number of social housing areas, with Dolphin House and St. Teresa's Gardens in Dublin specifically cited. I accept the committee’s findings based on the conditions that prevailed at the time of the various studies that supported the complaint. It is important to note, however, that we now have multimillion euro regeneration programmes well under way at both these locations and, when completed, they will result in vastly improved living conditions for the residents there.

There are other aspects of the committee's findings that I will be studying over the coming weeks and my Department will be responding to the committee shortly. We respect the role of the European Committee of Social Rights and while it is important to note those aspects of the complaint where no violations were found, we will also consider carefully those aspects of the complaint that the committee upheld.

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