Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Costello for raising this issue, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister for housing. I am glad to have the opportunity to discuss Dublin City Council's redevelopment plans for social housing complexes.

The Department of housing is committed to ensuring that tenants in social housing are provided with adequate housing that meets the standards most recently laid down in the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2019. The Department is actively engaging with the local authority sector to promote the preventative maintenance of local authority housing stock and provides significant funding for stock improvement works. While funding is available from the Department for the regeneration of inner-city flat complexes; it is a matter for the local authorities to submit for funding approval to the Department.

Through the Department's estate regeneration programme, Dublin City Council is working on the regeneration of Dolphin House. One hundred social housing units were completed in 2019 and a further 28 units are in preparation. The council advises that later phases will see the completion of the regeneration of the existing estate and deliver a total of over 750 homes, alongside the provision of community amenities, including a community centre and park. The council advises that work is currently under way in procuring the environmental impact assessment report and a Part 10 planning lodgement to meet statutory planning requirements for these later phases. In the meantime, the council advises that it is making a number of interventions to improve the conditions of the existing flats.

The Department of housing fully supports the regeneration programme for the Oliver Bond House complex and has awarded funding approval to Dublin City Council for key projects, commencing with the redevelopment of the flats in blocks L, M and N. Dublin City Council's city architects division will lead a consultant design team on developing the design ahead of submitting a Part 8 planning application. A feasibility study is being undertaken by the council to examine the options available for the community centre linked to the regeneration of Oliver Bond House. Work continues within the council to bring the project to its next stage. I am advised by the Minister that, in parallel with upgrading measures, precinct improvement works have been carried out around the estate to enhance the outdoor community spaces. In the interim, the council advises that all of the existing units have been surveyed for mechanical ventilation and to date, it has installed vents in 309 units. Furthermore, 400 windows in 55 residential units have been replaced.

Following the successful completion of two pilot projects, the council has advised that the full rolling out of window upgrading is expected to be finalised by the end of this year. The council is progressing the ongoing programme of warm-boarding units that back onto the stairwells.

The Emmet Road mixed-tenure development will transform the St. Michael's Estate site into a vibrant, residential-led neighbourhood. Planning permission was granted by An Bord Pleanála in July 2023 for 578 units, and the project will see the delivery of 137 social and 441 cost-rental homes. The mixed-use development includes a library, crèche, supermarket, retail units, public realm and landscape works, and a series of new public open spaces, all of which aim to create a sense of community within a sustainable and thriving new quarter of Dublin city. Under current project plans, the tender process and enabling works on the site will begin in quarter 4 this year, with construction beginning in 2025 and homes delivered on a phased basis from 2027 to 2028.

The council has advised the Department that it does not have any immediate plans for the redevelopment of the Summer Street flats.

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