John Lyons (Dublin North West, Labour)
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I wish the Minister of State the best of luck in her new portfolio. I know her experience of regeneration in Limerick will be of benefit in her work in the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government.

The Ballymun project of the 1960s fell approximately 10% short of total completion for various reasons, leading to many of the problems experienced in Ballymun over the years. People who know the Ballymun of the past will know it was synonymous with horses, "Into the West" and so on. This has in many ways stuck with it.

I remind the Minister of State that it was a Labour Party Minister in Government who in 1997 wrote the cheque to commence the largest urban regeneration project in Europe, namely, Ballymun Regeneration Limited, BRL. This project is almost complete. Some 15 years on, 1,600 new homes and 1,400 private units have been built. The Minister of State's Department gave a further €4.6 million prior to Christmas for continuation of this work, which is appreciated. The final 10% of this project remains to be completed. I appeal to the Minister of State to ensure we learn from our mistakes of the past. The last 10% is important. It is not just the icing on the cake: it is the final piece of the jigsaw which completes the project. Without it, the regeneration programme will not be complete. Infrastructure in respect of one particular housing unit, Sillogue 9 comprising 48 units, remains to be completed. Part of this infrastructure will ensure some of the sites which will not be developed will be shovel ready for when an upturn in the economy comes.

We must ensure that young children who grew up on what is a building site will have the facilities to allow them continue to live in a thriving and viable successful community. I ask that the Minister of State and Department take this into account. Without completion of the final 10% of this project, it will be a disappointing regeneration programme.

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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I thank Deputy Lyons for raising this issue. As he stated, both he and I have a strong interest in regeneration. I begin by reiterating my own commitment and that of my Department and the Government to seeing the regeneration of Ballymun successfully completed.

Ballymun regeneration is by far the largest regeneration project ever undertaken in this country, with a capital investment of more than €700 million over the past 15 years. Over that period, the project has delivered over 1,600 social housing units, 105 voluntary housing units and some 1,200 private and affordable units. A further 215 units are under construction at present and another 25 were recently approved to go to tender. Six of the 7 landmark towers have been demolished and almost all of the original 2,800 flats are either already demolished or are under contract to be demolished. In addition, the project has seen the delivery of a range of new infrastructure from roads and other services, to new parks, neighbourhood centres and state of the art community facilities. It is important to note that this substantial investment has not been limited to physical infrastructure. In line with the principles of regeneration, Ballymun Regeneration Limited, BRL, has also sought to address the causes of disadvantage through a programme of social interventions, including the very successful Axis Theatre and bringing much needed job opportunities to the area, such as IKEA and through the Rediscovery Centre.

The Ballymun regeneration programme has now moved into its completion phase. My Department is working closely with BRL and the City Council to ensure it is completed properly, on time and in a manner that protects the existing investment. I note Deputy Lyons' point in this regard. These projects are very complex and require a broad vision beyond just the replacement of houses. For this reason, our actions to complete the project at Ballymun are as important as those to commence it.

That said, after 15 years the community profile has changed and it is clear that the original number of social housing units proposed under the original masterplan may no longer be needed. As such, it is my intention to ensure that the projects planned and underway - some 250 units - will meet the remaining housing needs of the community as quickly as possible. I am particularly concerned to ensure that those 26 households living in the worst accommodation are rehoused as a matter of urgency. In addition, I would like to restate my commitment to the social and economic regeneration of the area, which will have to continue after the physical works are completed. In this regard, I will be looking to my Government colleagues to ensure a whole of Government approach is taken and sustained.

I note the particular area to which Deputy Lyons referred.

John Lyons (Dublin North West, Labour)
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I welcome the Minister of State's kind words, in particular her commitment to the social and economic regeneration of the area, post Ballymun regeneration. I take this opportunity to invite the Minister of State to walk the area of Ballymun to see the work and investment of this Government and of the Government of which the Labour Party was part, which signed the first cheques in respect of the demolition of the flats in 1997.

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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I would very much like to take the Deputy up on the invitation to see the work being done in Ballymun. It is important that the project is appropriately completed so that the lives of people in the community are greatly improved. Despite the many challenges of my Department, and across Government, in terms of funding I can assure the Deputy that funding for completion of this project has been protected.