Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

It was sent on 17 January. I asked if there was funding available in terms of climate action targets and for health and safety in these flat complexes. I asked what the council could do about them. The council stated that there is no specific Government fund available for window replacement and if additional funding becomes available, it can add more projects to the list. That is just not good enough. Funding needs to be made available, at least through actions to meet climate targets, to deal with this issue. There is a whole plethora of other issues to do with living in these complexes in the inner city. By the way, they are beautiful buildings, designed by Herbert George Simms. They would have won prizes back in the day. However, there have been hints from the council that these flats might go to the Land Development Agency. The LDA would love to flatten them because Emmet Buildings is surrounded by 12- and 14-storey high-rise vulture fund built accommodation. These are either aparthotels, student accommodation or very expensive apartments. More are planned.

It is not right to treat communities like this. They are the heart of the city. Hundred of families are living in these conditions and although regeneration is promised, it takes far too long to deal with fundamental and basic health problems that these people face daily. What I want to tease out today is what the Government is going to do to insist that local authorities step up to the mark and deliver health and safety to people in their dwellings.

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