Chris Andrews (Dublin Bay South, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

They are all very fine words and I appreciate the personal commitment of the Minister of State, but the reality is that people living in inner-city flat complexes have to put up with rats, faeces and racism. It is horrendous for residents living in these communities. I do not feel there is any sense of urgency to progress the work.

I met residents from Andrews Court four years ago in respect of a proposal from Dublin City Council. It will be another four years before a small block housing 11 families will be dealt with. None of the flat complexes on Digges Street, Cuffe Street and Mercer House have playgrounds for toddlers or children to play in and entertain themselves. These are not big asks. It is not unreasonable for families to expect their children to have somewhere to play when living in a flat complex. There is nothing.

Resources are not being put into the flat complexes. If Dublin City Council is not going to invest adequately in the maintenance of flat complexes in order to deal with the issues facing residents, the residents will become demoralised and places will become dilapidated. As I have said, many complexes are in serious need of regeneration. I welcome anybody in the House to come and visit some flats. Some are next to derelict and it is demoralising for residents and public representatives, across parties, to have to meet residents and hear their stories. Flat complexes have been neglected for too long and this has to end. They have to be resourced in order to ensure that residents have a decent quality of life.

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