Dáil debates

Tuesday, 28 April 2009

Adjournment Debate

Urban Renewal Schemes.

11:00 pm

Photo of Aengus Ó SnodaighAengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Ba mhaith liom buíochas a ghabháil leis an Ceann Comhairle as ucht an cheist seo a roghnú. Dolphin House in my constituency is in the news in recent days for all the wrong reasons. What has been in the news is a slight on the good people of Dolphin House who are normal people struggling to live normal lives but, because of neglect by the State over many years, have many things to cope with, not just the problems of the past two days. There are many problems such as sewage, drug problems, poor housing and the siege of the area, not only in the past two days but for quite a long time, by drug dealers who have made their community a misery.

This area and the people living there had built up their hopes in recent years. They reorganised the community and much good work was done to try to ensure when regeneration occurred, everyone in the community would benefit. Such was the enthusiasm for the planned regeneration that people in the community were involved in a door-to-door canvass of every household to find out what people's preferred options were and ask them for ideas. There was a significant response which much higher than in many other areas which have been socially disadvantaged. Most people said they would prefer the complex be demolished and a new Dolphin House or community be rebuilt on the site. Other issues raised in the canvass were the protection of the community and the need to tackle the increasing anti-social behaviour in the complexes, especially in block 2 and subsequently in block 4. There was a need, in the meantime, for Dublin City Council to increase its repair and maintenance work in the area.

Such was the scale of the changes, anyone visiting Dolphin House now would not recognise it from the late 1980s or early 1990s. The community has reorganised and there is much work being done for young people. Despite this, hopes have been dashed because the regeneration programme, given the current economic circumstances, seems to have been stalled. My appeal is for those hopes to be regenerated and for some message from the Government to say it has not forgotten the community and is still on track with the regeneration of Dolphin House.

As a symbol of the stalled process, if one goes into Dolphin House there are brand new portakabins where the old community centre was and they have been there for a number of months waiting on Dublin City Council to connect them to the sewage system. Months have passed and it has not happened. A simple thing such as that would mean the community could use the brand new facilities it has.

I urge the Minister of State, Deputy Moloney to send out a message of hope to the community so it does not feel isolated and totally under siege by the thugs who have tried over recent nights to destroy the reputation and good work in the area. Some 30 cars were damaged one night with a riot the following night and subsequent disturbances. It is not a positive message of regeneration. I appeal to the Minister of State to work with the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy Dermot Ahern, to send out a message that the community will be protected because in recent nights the thugs have specifically targeted those who have been working to build up the community and ensure young people in Dolphin House have hope.

Only two days ago I attended the launch of a report on the health of the community and, again, it reflected what we already knew. Those who are disadvantaged have major health problems which are exacerbated by poor living conditions and anti-social behaviour. There is an opportunity for the Minister of State, elected representatives and Dublin City Council to send a message out they will stand by the community and ensure the good work that has been carried out in recent years will not be left to go to rack and ruin, that there is potential in the area, they will help re-start the regeneration project and work will take place.

Photo of John MoloneyJohn Moloney (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy John Gormley, understands from inquiries made that increased Garda activity in the vicinity of Dolphin House has led to a serious and quite sinister spate of anti-social behaviour and criminal activity, including vandalism of cars, daubing of graffiti and threatening behaviour. The Minister commends the members of the Garda Síochána on their diligence in carrying out their duties and the members of the general community in the Dolphin's Barn area who rightly support the Garda in their efforts to address anti-social behaviour and criminal activity engaged in by very small numbers of people in the area. Furthermore, he wishes to record his condemnation of those involved in this sort of activity who, purely for their own capital gain, seek to undermine the Dolphin's Barn community.

Community is and always has been the bedrock of society and its development, encouragement and protection is paramount in this Government's policy of sustainable communities. There is a very clear objective to ensure communities in all parts of the country are afforded the opportunity to grow and develop in a safe environment and to enjoy the protections afforded by the laws of the land. The Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008, which has been passed by the Seanad and is on Second Stage in this House, is an important legislative milestone in the ongoing development and implementation of housing policy and in progressing the sustainable communities agenda.

Of particular importance are the new provisions in the Bill relating to anti-social behaviour in the social housing stock. There is a new requirement that the elected members of each authority must adopt a strategy for the prevention and reduction of anti-social behaviour in its housing estates and complexes. The strategy must set out measures to promote good estate management and co-operation with other bodies, such as the Garda, that have a role to play in combating anti-social behaviour. The new strategies, combined with statutory initiatives to promote consultation between the Garda and local authorities, will help secure a multifaceted approach to dealing with instances of anti-social behaviour in local authority housing estates.

The definition of anti-social behaviour in the Bill is also being extended to cover graffiti and damage to property to bring it more into line with the approach in recent legislation relating to behaviour orders that may be sought by the Garda. Furthermore, the Bill extends the existing anti-social behaviour powers of housing authorities to cover a broader range of accommodation, including accommodation provided through rental or leasing arrangements.

In conjunction with the Office of the Attorney General, the Minister is also looking at the scope for further changes to existing legislation that will enhance the role of housing authorities in addressing anti-social behaviour. He will incorporate any further measures that he possibly can arising from this examination when the Bill reaches Committee Stage in the Dáil.

Regarding the issue of a regeneration programme for Dolphin House, the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government has not yet received a proposal in this regard from Dublin City Council. However, the Minister understands proposals are being developed and the project is at an early stage in the process, with initial consultations between the city council and community nearing completion. It will then be up to Dublin City Council to decide on the type of regeneration process most appropriate for the area and decide by which means the project should be delivered. However, it is open to the council to prioritise the project in terms of its social housing investment programme and submit a report in the usual way to the Department for project approval and funding from the within the authority's annual funding allocation.

I emphasise to the House that the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government continues to work actively with Dublin City Council in connection with its broad range of housing programmes. In that context, the Minister looks forward to continued engagement with the council as it develops and implements its ambitious programme of regeneration. I thank Deputy Ó Snodaigh for raising the issue.

The Dáil adjourned at 12.50 a.m. until 10.30 a.m. on Wednesday, 29 May 2009.