Paudge Connolly (Cavan-Monaghan, Independent)
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I thank the Ceann Comhairle for agreeing to an impromptu meeting with a delegation last week. I want to discuss the remedial works scheme at Mullaghmatt estate in Monaghan town. There are 170 houses on the estate, half of which are in private ownership and the remainder in council ownership. The estate, which is more than 40 years old, is beginning to show its age and needs a face lift. The remedial works scheme will help to regenerate the estate in that regard.

A pilot scheme being operated in the estate is nothing short of excellent and people are pleased with the work being done by the contractors. However, an estate committee, which is working towards rebuilding the estate, wants to play a part in the planning process but feels it is being left out of the loop. Much would be gained by giving the committee some form of ownership of the project. The council has passed the contract to the National Building Agency but people on the estate also have ideas for the project.

Funding is available, to a maximum of 50%, for replacing windows and other refurbishments but private owners will have to pay upwards of €3,000. Many people would consider that small money but it is a significant expense to many people on the estate. Approximately 70% of the owners whose houses need refurbishment will not apply for funding because they cannot afford the repayments. The people who can afford to pay for refurbishments have already done so. Full use should be made of these funds because it would defeat the purpose if only two out of ten houses in a row installed new windows. People do not desire a patchwork arrangement of that nature.

The committee is concerned that some of the money assigned for refurbishments will be returned unused and is investigating whether soft loans could made available. Some of the people concerned are unemployed and unable to take up this generous offer. The committee has ideas on progressing the project and is seeking a meeting with the NBA.

The estate is improving and investors are starting to buy houses in it, which sends out the right type of signal. A visit to the estate would be worthwhile in order to see the work already completed in part one of the project. I urge the Minister of State to allow the committee to become part of the decision-making process.

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I acknowledge the Deputy's interest in raising this matter, which was also raised with me by the Minister of State, Deputy Brendan Smith. The Mullaghmatt housing estate in Monaghan town has been designated for funding under my Department's remedial works scheme. I am strongly committed to regeneration and remedial works programmes. The first phase of the Mullmaghmatt redevelopment, which is currently under way, involves the refurbishment of 25 rented houses and some works to six tenant purchased houses at an estimated cost of over €2 million.

The extensive refurbishment of the rented houses includes the provision of new windows and doors, installation of central heating and associated insulation and rewiring. Effectively, these houses will be brought up to modern standards. I understand work is well advanced on the project and this phase will be complete by the end of August.

It is normal practice in refurbishment schemes of this size that a pilot or an initial phase is undertaken to test the efficacy of the works proposed. A report is then prepared by the local authority for its own assessment and for subsequent submission to my Department for consideration with regard to progression to further phases. Monaghan Town Council will shortly prepare an evaluation report on the first phase of the regeneration of Mullaghmatt in conjunction with the National Building Agency, which is the council's consultant on the project. The evaluation report will cover a number of issues, including whether the works carried out have adequately addressed the problems presented in the estate and identify the implications for the remaining phases. The cost effectiveness of the refurbishment works undertaken will also be subject to critical evaluation.

The extent of tenant satisfaction associated with improvements in the management of the estate will be an important feature of how the overall project will advance. The timeline for the implementation of further phases of remedial works to remaining houses in the estate is a matter to be determined by the town council in conjunction with my Department in light of the outcome of the initial phase of implementation.

I would like to address an issue that has been raised by the Deputy and others in respect of work on tenant purchased private houses in the estate. It is a condition of the remedial works scheme that tenant purchasers of houses in a remedial works project may be included in a project where it is considered by the local authority that the undertaking of external works to these dwellings is necessary to avoid an unacceptable or incongruous result to the refurbishment of the estate as a whole. Eligible work to tenant purchased houses is confined to the exterior elevation of the houses and would typically include the provision of new windows and doors, replacement of facias and soffits and new boundary walls.

Tenant purchasers are required under the scheme to contribute 50% of the cost of eligible works to their houses. There are no proposals to alter the terms of the scheme with regard to contributions from tenant purchasers. The Deputy will recognise that these are now privately owned houses. It is a matter for the town council at local level to secure the participation of any private householders on the basis that they make a 50% contribution to improvement works to the front of their houses. I hope the Deputy will acknowledge this is a generous contribution to the rejuvenation of privately owned houses.

I assure the Deputy that I support the regeneration of this particular estate. However, an evaluation of the first phase is necessary in order to ensure that the refurbishment work properly addresses the various problems in the estate before proceeding to the next phase of redevelopment. I will ask the National Building Agency and the town council to report to my Department on their experience of the first phase and their proposals for the further redevelopment of the estate. I assure the Deputy that my Department has supported the redevelopment of this estate.