Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Finneran, for taking the Adjournment this evening as he has responsibility for housing and I ask him to convey our concerns to the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy John Gormley, considering the importance of this issue.

The Limerick regeneration plan will be nothing but a pipe dream if funding is not made available to commence the planning and design elements this year and to move the projects to construction next year. It is critical that the Government shows its support for the plan by formally endorsing it at Cabinet and providing the necessary resources.

This is a crucial time for Limerick regeneration. Communities that saw very little evidence of Celtic tiger Ireland even before the bubble burst have invested their hopes as well as their time, energy and ideas into these plans. It would be terrible to let those people down now. They have had to put up with neglect and intimidation for long enough. If there is any rowing back on expectations now, these communities will rightly conclude that no one in power really cares about them.

Deputy Kieran O'Donnell and myself and other representatives of Limerick met with the regeneration agency during the summer. The agency made it clear to us the importance of making progress at this time. The first requirement is approximately €1 million in order to commence the design and planning of a number of key projects, including sheltered housing for older people at each side of the city and small group housing schemes in other parts of the areas. If design is not commenced in the next couple of months, the projects will be unduly delayed and the intention is to commence the design and planning and then proceed to construction next year.

The second requirement is an allocation for 2010 which is at least as large as the nearly €25 million provided for in 2009. This will allow for construction to begin and for some progress to be made on the social and economic elements which in my view are equally important or perhaps more important than the physical element of the regeneration programme.

Money spent on sporting facilities, environmental improvements, summer camps and youth activities, will make more of an impact, in my opinion, than the bricks and mortar elements. Support for enterprise and the maintenance of jobs is obviously crucial at this stage. Construction must begin. What has happened with regard to houses so far has been nearly all negative from the point of view of people living in these areas. People in communities such as Moyross, St. Mary's Park, Ballinacurra Weston and Southill have seen some of their best neighbours move out and their houses being boarded up. This has allowed the criminal elements to hold sway even more. This is worse than the intimidation many people experience. It has left people living beside boarded up and derelict houses which attract dumping and sometimes rodents as well as causing dampness and a general feeling of being abandoned. Anyone here in the House would understand that it is not a good experience to have empty houses right beside one or in the same block.

I refer to one small estate in particular which I will not name because the residents have suffered enough. It was ravaged by a very small group who felt they could do whatever they liked. That estate was once one of the most sought-after areas on the housing list of Limerick City Council. It is very sad to meet people who used to live in that estate or to walk around it today. In my opinion it would be far worse to stop or slow down regeneration now than to never have initiated it. I have talked to people living in those estates. They regard themselves as living in a limbo land. The community that was there is gradually being moved out to various places and the community of the future has not been put in place yet. The people do not know what is happening and they want answers.

I tabled a question to the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government during the summer and I received a reply when the Dáil returned last week. In his reply he stated he will be presenting the master plan with associated implementation plans to the Government this autumn and this is to be welcomed. The Government must endorse the plan and give its full backing for the implementation of the plan.

Most people I spoke to were surprised that this had not already been done. There is a general impression in Limerick that the plan has already been fully endorsed by Government. The people in those communities need that certainty and that commitment.

I am looking for confirmation from the Minister of State that the proposals will go to Cabinet within the next month and that funding at least on a par with what was allocated this year will be forthcoming, as well as the €1 million needed for design and planning for next year's projects. I hope the Minister of State will be able to give these assurances this evening.

Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick East, Fine Gael)
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I echo many of the sentiments expressed by Deputy O'Sullivan. We need action on regeneration. The project is in danger of losing credibility and of stalling. People were unaware that this is a draft plan which has yet to receive formal Cabinet approval. I want the Minister of State to give us an indication of the date when it will be approved at Cabinet. I want an indication from him of when the €1 million will be provided for the planning and design stage. In the four regeneration areas of Moyross, St. Mary's Park, Southill and Ballinacurra Weston, houses have been knocked and people are waiting to see physical works taking place but they have not started. They have been given no indication as to when these works will begin. Their neighbours and friends have moved out so instead of the regeneration areas flourishing, they have been depopulated over a period of time, over the past 18 months. This draft plan is in place since last October and it is critical that we are given an indication tonight in the House that there is Government commitment to the regeneration project in Limerick. The only way we can have that is for formal Cabinet approval of the draft master plan. Once this is put in place it is imperative that the €1 million is provided for planning and design. The project was well received by people in the regeneration areas and in the wider Limerick community but which has literally sat in limbo. All we have seen is destruction of certain houses in the regeneration areas and nothing to replace them. Apart from the fact that the project would improve the quality of life for people in the regeneration areas and restore credibility, it has an enormous job creation potential for the city of Limerick. Many of the people in the regeneration areas have lost their jobs. The jobs task force report chaired by Denis Brosnan has stated that there could be up to 3,000 people a year employed during the regeneration process. It is critical that is put in place. I would also like the Minister of State to convey to the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Gormley, that it is critical that funding be provided in the forthcoming budget to allow projects, such as sheltered housing and group housing schemes, in the four regeneration areas.

The time for talking is over. We hear repeatedly from various Ministers that the matter is being looked at. People in Limerick were unaware that the plan has not yet been approved by the Cabinet. This is not good enough. This is a question of political will. Either the Government has the will to push forward regeneration in Limerick or it has not. Without the facility to carry the project to the design stage, the Limerick regeneration project will stall. This will not be the responsibility of the people of Limerick but of the Government.

I have three questions for the Minister of State. First, on what date will the draft master plan come before Cabinet for formal approval and be adopted as Government policy, showing true commitment by the Government? Second, when will the €1 million funding be provided to allow the planning and design stage to proceed? Only then can the project deal with the local authorities with regard to planning and design. People will then realise that the regeneration project is fully under way. Third, there must be a Government commitment that funding, in excess of what was provided in the last year, will be provided in the forthcoming budget for regeneration in Limerick. We are now approaching the construction phase in terms of housing in the regeneration project areas.

People in the regeneration areas want to live in those areas. They are entitled to do so and to have houses and health and education services of a good standard. The Government sold them a pipe-dream amid fanfare but it has not backed it up with resources or commitment. The regeneration project is still not formal Government policy.

I want the Minister of State, Deputy Finneran, to give good news to the people of the regeneration areas and to Limerick. We want to see this plan adopted now.

Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputies for raising this item as it affords me an opportunity once again to confirm the Government's commitment to the regeneration of the most disadvantaged areas of Limerick city, to the communities living there, and to the ongoing viability of the city as a gateway for the mid-west. I also acknowledge the involvement of the Minister for Defence, Deputy Willie O'Dea, who met with me and with officials in July and again this week.

Under our national housing policy statement, Delivering Homes: Sustaining Communities, we strive to create and support sustainable communities. Our approach to regeneration is not just about investing in the built environment, as Deputy O'Sullivan mentioned, although this is undoubtedly an important element in the regeneration process. Rather we take a holistic approach that seeks to address the underlying causes of such social, economic, and educational disadvantage by investing in social inclusion activities, providing educational opportunities and by ensuring strong links with the business community. In short, by integrating these areas into the wider community and by offering all of the social supports necessary for the communities there, we hope to achieve stable, sustainable communities where previously there was only isolation, hardship and disadvantage.

From the outset, my Department has recognised the Limerick Regeneration Agencies' sterling work in delivering two regeneration vision plans, developing a strong framework for inter-agency and community collaboration and providing the flexible LRA regeneration programme, which proposes a road map for a new Limerick over the next decade. As is widely acknowledged, this programme will require significant investment of time and resources from public and private stakeholders in delivering the mixed use, mixed tenure sustainable communities envisaged over the period of implementation for the project.

My Department is now finalising its consideration of the proposals in the regeneration programme with a view to its formal presentation to Government this autumn, with associated implementation plans. Other Departments and State agencies, through their involvement on the boards of the agencies, have also been considering the LRA regeneration programme and further engagement in regard to social regeneration is taking place as part of a high level initiative with relevant Secretaries General and heads of key agencies.

With regard to funding in 2009, my Department is providing almost €26 million to support regeneration activity for the Limerick regeneration areas. An agreed 2009 joint works programme is underway through the agencies, Limerick City and County Councils and Clare County Council. This funding includes the specific budget allocation of €8.25 million to cover the agencies' specific costs and projects. The works programme supports the relocation programme for households within and outside the regeneration areas, both in terms of improving community stability and facilitating construction works, as well as proceeding with the extensive planned demolitions. The investment in social inclusion initiatives in the areas has been significantly increased in 2009. In addition, funding has been provided for the continuation of estate improvement works, including wide-scale clean-ups in the areas concerned and specific safety initiatives and community intervention projects. A project team led by the agencies has been established to deliver detailed plans for two new sheltered housing projects in Moyross and Ballinacurra Weston. Some €1.5million is set aside to meet these design costs and it is intended that priority projects in the Southill and St. Mary's Park areas will be added to the project team's remit. On my visit to Limerick earlier this year, I sanctioned those two projects and they are now at design stage.

Against that background, I can assure the House that significant funding for the regeneration will continue to be provided through my Department in 2010. The priorities involved are due to be reviewed as part of the respective October housing action plan meetings between my Department, Limerick City and County Councils, Clare County Council and the Limerick Regeneration Agencies. The funding allocations will be determined in light of these forthcoming meetings, wider Government decisions, the 2010 Estimates process and the level of support available from other key public and private stakeholders.

With regard to previous investment, the House may wish to note that in addition to the €26 million being provided this year, my Department also provided some €30 million to support the regeneration programme over the two preceding years. This funding was provided to both the Limerick Regeneration Agencies and Limerick City Council and has supported the establishment and operation of the Limerick Regeneration Agencies, the demolition of some 350 void properties, extensive estate clean-ups, CCTV camera installation, environmental works, support for the local communities through educational and social initiatives, investment in key community facilities like the Galvone youth centre and the development of the vision plans and masterplans.

As Deputies will be aware, the broader economic and employment situation in Limerick and the mid-west region is under consideration in light of the interim report of the mid-west task force. The Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment published the report on 28 July 2009 and the Government is engaging in a cross-departmental consultation process to evaluate and consider the implementation of the report's recommendations, including those relating to the Limerick regeneration programme.

I would also like to mention the involvement of other Departments, statutory agencies and key stakeholders in the regeneration process. Joined up approaches to regeneration are critical as we aim to achieve greater value for money and deliver more co-ordinated, coherent services for local communities in a period of more constrained public finances. I thank the Deputies for raising this issue and I reiterate my and the Government's commitment to supporting the regeneration of Limerick city in 2009 and onwards.

Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick East, Fine Gael)
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Will the Minister of State allow me leave to ask a question? What of the €1 million for planning and design?

Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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It is €1.5 million.

Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick East, Fine Gael)
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It is purely for two sheltered projects. When will the Government consider providing funding for the overall scheme? It is slightly different.

Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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There will be money for 2010.