Chris Andrews (Dublin South East, Fianna Fail)
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I watched an episode of "Prime Time" last week, a programme which the public broadcaster, RTE, claimed would reveal something hugely problematic for society and the management of the regeneration process in inner city Dublin. It was most disappointing. One expected to be confronted with some huge revelations but, in fact, it was pure hype. There was nothing in the programme worth listening to or discussing. Obviously, there is a planning dispute but that is the start and end of the matter.

The real pity is that the programme conveyed an image of the docklands authority as somehow failing in its duty and role in the regeneration of inner city Dublin. That could not be further from the truth. Since its establishment in 1997, the Dublin Docklands Development Authority has transformed people's lives. It has made a huge difference in terms of social and affordable housing. People have been moved from substandard accommodation that should have been knocked down years ago to modern, bright, healthy and sustainable accommodation. That is due to the docklands authority.

The authority has tried to embrace the entire community in the area by including and consulting with everybody, be they young or old. Visit the schools, parks and community centres throughout the docklands areas, north and south, and see how they have been touched by the authority through the services supplied and delivered to the communities in the area. Recently I passed a pub on the quays, The Ferryman. Ten or 15 years ago one would have wondered what the man was doing, trying to run a pub in the godforsaken area. Clearly, the area has changed and in a positive way. The impression given by RTE, the public service broadcaster, should not prevail.

The education brief of the docklands authority is most impressive. It is involved with the School Principals' Forum and has a drama in the schools programme, a parents in education programme, a literacy programme and third level scholarship programmes. The docklands is a good news story.

Cyprian Brady (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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I support my colleague. I have spent many years in the area on the north side of the Liffey. The Dublin Docklands Development Authority has transformed the lives of people in inner city areas, and not just in respect of housing. There is a new community there that has integrated very successfully with the traditional community. That is solely due to the efforts of the Dublin Docklands Development Authority.

The authority is not just involved in housing. It has educational and social programmes and has provided many facilities in the area. These are used by the communities on both sides of the Liffey. The area has experienced tremendous changes. When one sees efforts to denigrate what is probably the most successful regeneration programme the country has ever had, one wonders where we are going. I invite people to visit the docklands on the north and south sides of the Liffey to see the difference. I see it in the children living in these areas. They are now more confident. There was a very bad incident at the weekend and the community is in shock, but the fact that the development authority is there and is involved so closely with the communities strengthens them and ensures there is a future for these children.

We are in a position to assist these areas after many generations of unemployment and deprivation. Children now have an opportunity to finish their schooling, progress to third level education and ultimately have the possibility of a job. That was never the case in these areas previously. For many years they experienced dereliction, unemployment and deprivation. That has changed and that is due to the Dublin Docklands Development Authority.

Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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I thank Deputies Chris Andrews and Cyprian Brady for raising this matter. I am pleased to be able to respond positively to this motion, which recognises the solid work that has been undertaken by the Dublin Docklands Development Authority since its establishment in 1997 in managing the physical, economic and social regeneration of more than 500 hectares of the docklands. The success of the authority in tackling physical dereliction, lack of investment, inadequate infrastructure and facilities, housing shortfall, poor educational attainment and social isolation is striking.

Some key facts and statistics indicate the extent of the docklands transformation within the past decade. There are now more than 22,000 people living in the docklands, an increase of nearly 30%. The number of people employed has almost doubled to approximately 40,000. More than 750,000 sq. m. of commercial space has been permitted, 25% of the total office development in Dublin since 2002 was in the docklands and more than 5,000 housing units have been constructed and 11,000 housing units will have been delivered by 2012. Of these, 20% will be allocated to social and affordable housing.

Some landmark projects completed in recent years, under way or in the immediate pipeline include: Grand Canal square and theatre, the national conference centre, the Docklands Station at Sheriff Street, the expansion of the Point Theatre and development of the Point Village, the Sean O'Casey and Samuel Beckett bridges, the campshires and the 1 km long Royal Canal linear park. Social regeneration has been as important as physical development. The key to this is investment in education and equal opportunity. More than 30 education programmes are running in docklands schools.

The authority is a progressive body, with a clear vision. Building on the success of the past decade and following extensive stakeholder consultation and wide public engagement, the council of the authority within the past fortnight has unanimously adopted a 2008 master plan under which programmes, projects and policies will be rolled out for the next phase of this regeneration project.

Overall, the docklands continues to be among the largest areas of the city with the opportunity of achieving a sustainable built environment where living, working and leisure can be integrated in a distinct, high quality and coherent urban quarter served by modern public transport infrastructure. There are challenges ahead and the economic downturn will have an effect on the pace of development and present challenges in attracting new businesses. It also remains important to attract more families into the docklands and integrate them successfully with existing communities.

I have every confidence in the capacity of the authority fully to address its regeneration objectives and my Department will continue strongly to support its endeavours. I am pleased to have accepted an invitation from the authority to address its sixth social regeneration conference next January. The theme of the conference, which is likely to be attended by several hundred delegates from local community groups, local State bodies and the business community is, fittingly, Continuity of Delivery, with a special focus on education and quality of life. I look forward to engaging with the authority and all the stakeholders at the conference.

I again thank Deputies Chris Andrews and Cyprian Brady for raising this matter in the House. I am confident in the ability of the authority, assisted by interaction between the political system, Dublin City Council and others, to advance this project, which continues to have the support of my Department.