Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I bring to the attention of the Minister of State six blocks of flats in the Togher area. They are all of the same type, and I will come to that in a while. These flats at Cherry Tree Road, Hazel Road, Sycamore Place, Maple Place, Togher Road and Clashduv Road were built in the 1970s by what was then Cork Corporation. The flats are part of a very strong community in the Togher area, but on several occasions in recent years I have had discussions with residents and my colleagues, former councillors Orla O’Leary and Eolan Ryng, have spoken to them as well. The flats have gone beyond their lifespan. The conditions in them are not good enough.

I will detail some of the issues. The layout of the blocks is such that there is a balcony and stairwell between the ground floor and the first floor. There have been issues with rats in some of the blocks. In several, there are serious issues with cold and damp. There are also issues with subsidence in some of the blocks. There are issues with uneven floors caused by, I suppose, the decay of the fabric of buildings. There have been issues with loose masonry as well, but the primary issues are cold and damp, along with deterioration of the general fabric of the buildings. The iron bars surrounding the balconies have rusted, become jagged and are dangerous to children because of the condition they are in.

As stated. the flats are all of the same type. They were built under the instruction of architect Eamon O'Byrne, who was employed by Cork Corporation. They are the same as the apartments at the complexes on Noonan’s Road that have been pencilled in for demolition and regeneration. The report of the Commission on Housing that calls on the Government to formulate a plan to retrofit high-density housing in flat complexes in Dublin and Cork. The flats to which I refer are very likely some of the examples the commission was thinking of.

I have spoken to the residents. They are really frustrated at the slow pace of things. Reports have been compiled by the council in respect of this matter. Part of the issue seems to be that funding for large-scale regeneration is difficult to access. While there have been some works done in three of the blocks, these were relatively minor in nature and were really an exercise in kicking the can down the road. Such works are welcomed by the residents when it comes to fixing windows and things of that nature, but they do not tackle the fact these buildings are no longer fit for purpose.

There is a need for complete regeneration of these complexes. The residents are living in conditions that are not good enough. They are taking care of the buildings to the best extent they can, but these flats are similar to the ones on Noonan’s Road, which the council has accepted should be the subject of a full regeneration. The buildings at both locations are of the same type. There is a need for a root-and-branch approach in respect of this matter. We need full regeneration of the buildings and better accommodation for the families and individuals who live there.

I hope the Minister of State will consider what I have said. I appreciate that she is not based in the Department of housing, but I am conscious of the fact that it could be some time before this matter is dealt with.

It is important, therefore, that it be placed on the agenda. I hope the Minister of State will speak to the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, on this issue because it is a quality of life issue for the residents of those six blocks.

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