Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I agree wholeheartedly with the Deputy. We recognise the need to modernise and bring living conditions up to acceptable standards. All of these developments have the objective of improving the living conditions of residents and to that end Dublin City Council is developing a long-term strategy for the redevelopment and-or refurbishment of many of these complexes.

In addition to Glovers Court, my Department has provided stage 1 approval for phase one of the regeneration of Pearse House , Constitution Hill, Matt Talbot Court, Liberties Cluster and Oliver Bond House and phase 1A of Bluebell, as well as stage 2 approval for St. Mary’s Dorset Street which is currently going through the Part 8 planning process. A large number of these flat complexes will, in effect, be rebuilt, while others will be refurbished and in some cases amalgamated into one due to the unacceptable sizes of some homes.

As I stated, no reports of contaminated or unsafe drinking water have been reported at Glovers Court. The water supply comes from the neighbouring York Street apartments which contain a pump house where water is fed directly from water mains. Dublin City Council committed to my Department today to send its inspectors to the complex this afternoon to ensure all is in order.

In summary, the points the Deputy raised about wider community development supports such as playgrounds and the social cohesion of the community are an important part of such regeneration projects and it is a matter for Dublin City Council to engage proactively with the communities on what they want in their areas and the wider supports they need, as well as the physical regeneration of the houses and apartment complexes.

There is a bigger piece of work around supporting communities to feel proud of and safe where they are living, for young people growing up and the wider community. That is an equally important component part of the physical regeneration of apartment complexes.

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