Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I agree with my party colleague Deputy Ó Laoghaire. We have been dealing with the residents of Noonan's Road for years, but even before that, the residents of Noonan's Road and St. Finbarr's Road had been promised works on their flats for years, with very little done. These flats were built in a bygone time. We have to move beyond that now. Deputy Ó Laoghaire and I are looking for full regeneration, similar to other regeneration projects, where the flats would be knocked down and the residents would be moved elsewhere locally. Cork City Council now has two developments in the area, where houses that will be built could allow the residents to come back. That is happening in other areas that are being regenerated.

On Monday night, a petition was handed in. I mention in particular William O'Brien, who is organising the residents, and Sinn Féin councillor Fiona Kerins, who has raised this matter numerous times with Cork City Council. The houses are cold, damp and full of mould. These are very proud people who love their community and love where they live. They do not want to leave it but they cannot live in these conditions.

In 2019, energy efficiency monitors were put on some of those houses but we have never got the results of the report. Why was the report not released to the residents and councillors? This is a wonderful community. A bit of retrofitting or maintenance work will not do it. The flats are not fit for purpose. They need urgent regeneration action now. If this were a private landlord, they would not get away with keeping tenants in these conditions. Will the Minister of State commit to funding a full regeneration project for Noonan's Road, St. Finbarr's Road and the surrounding areas?

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