Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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Deputy Ellis wishes to discuss the proposed developments at the site of the Church of the Annunciation in Finglas. We do not often get to discuss church-related matters.

Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)
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Definitely.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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I am sure the Deputy will tell us what he has in mind.

Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)
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The population of Finglas is estimated at 32,000. It is an old area with a long history and has many new projects and developments under way. Finglas is an area that faces many challenges on a daily basis. There is a strong sense of community spirit. However, it has the problems often associated with many built-up urban areas.

It is important to have facilities in place for a growing and ageing population. There is also growth in the number families moving into Finglas and a demand for more. That is why I welcome the development of the site of the former Church of the Annunciation, which is in a prime location in north and west Finglas and which is due to be demolished shortly. The adjoining Fergal's Field site up to Fergal's Lane have been included as part of this development. The Church of the Annunciation has been a well-known and loved landmark for more than 50 years. Thanks to its iconic spire and elevated site, the church can be seen for many miles, not just across Finglas, but across Dublin.

Dublin City Council has purchased the church site and the adjoining Fergal's Field site and has reached an agreement with the HSE to make available a part of the site for a much-needed primary care centre. The centre has been a top priority for the HSE for many years. I have fought for it on behalf of the community in Finglas for a long time. The primary care centre is urgently needed in light of the ageing population in north and west Finglas.

The Church of the Annunciation site is ideally suited for the proposed projects to be located at the new development. Several buses service the area, there are many shops nearby and the West Finglas Tenants and Residents Association, WFTRA, community centre is across the road along with the HSE Odin's Wood day care centre for the elderly.

I have raised the site's development a number of times in the House and, therefore, I am delighted that it appears to be coming to fruition. Part of the plan for the development is to include a Tusla service.

I also welcome Dublin City Council's plans to build accommodation for senior citizens. That will help to alleviate the housing crisis in the area by allowing Dublin City Council to buy-up the houses of those senior citizens who wish to avail of the senior citizens' financial contribution scheme, thereby allowing such houses to become available to accommodate families on the ever-growing housing list in Finglas.

Planning has also been sought for a new church that would be more suited to the needs of the community and its population. I have also requested that for further community gain the Finglas boxing club, which has been in existence for almost 60 years and has had generations of young people from around the area come through its doors, should have its own dedicated premises. I have also requested a room for the local pigeon club. It is very important that the community and the residents in the area are fully consulted on all plans for the site and the proposed developments. The new development will greatly impact on them in the future and any concerns that they have should be accommodated as much as possible.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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Did Deputy Ellis get any pigeon lofts in there?

Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)
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No, just a room.

John Paul Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. I am taking this on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, Deputy Eoghan Murphy. It provides an ample opportunity to discuss future developments in the Finglas area. When listening to the Deputy's opening remarks, I was reminded that the Church of the Annunciation is visible from the top deck of the Cusack Stand in Croke Park. When someone is sitting near the Hill 16 end, it can be seen it quite clearly.

Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)
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Yes.

John Paul Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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I have had the opportunity on many occasions. I must confess I was not aware that the population in the greater Finglas area is 32,000. It is a significant population centre and we need to provide additional facilities for it. Following the closure of the Church of the Annunciation in Finglas last October, Dublin City Council acquired land on two adjacent but separate sites from the archdiocese at that location. The council is now working to develop this land. I understand that the smaller site at the rear of the church will be developed for social housing and that plans are at an early stage, as the Deputy indicated, to develop 45 homes for older people on that part of the site. The initial feasibility study is currently under way and it is hoped that the study will be completed shortly.

It is a matter for the council to advance this housing project and the Department will consider its proposal on receipt of a formal capital appraisal and will assess the proposal speedily. The Department is eager to support proposals such as the one we are discussing in Finglas. Next year, funding of more than €2.6 billion is being provided by the Government to support projects such as this. The Deputy referred to Fergal's Lane, which I presume is the artery to link the site known as Fergal's Field to the wider world. Fergal's Field will be used by the HSE for the construction of a primary care centre. The development of the centre is a matter for the HSE.

Under Rebuilding Ireland, the Government has committed more than €6 billion to meet social housing needs and to support more than 138,000 additional households throughout the country. That includes 83,760 housing assistance payment, HAP, homes, 3,800 rental accommodation scheme, RAS, homes and more than 50,000 new homes under build, acquisition and leasing. It is positive to see in the latest construction status report for quarter 2 of this year that 6,439 social homes are currently on site. The delivery of those homes along with the additional 8,387 homes in the pipeline will substantially aid the continued reduction in the number of households on social housing waiting lists. Those numbers continue to decline, with a 5% reduction of households on the waiting lists between 2018 and 2019, and a 26% reduction since 2016. This progress has been possible due to the strong delivery under Rebuilding Ireland with 84,147 homes being delivered under the programme since 2016.

Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)
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The primary care centre, which was promised for Finglas and is a priority for the HSE, is part of this proposal. I hope it is at an advanced stage. My worry is that there might be problems getting funding to build the primary care centre. I hope the matter can be sorted out and that there will be no such problems. Everyone is worried about the amount that was committed to the children's hospital on the St. James's Hospital site. I have lived all my life in Finglas and there has not been a GP in north Finglas and most of west Finglas for as far back as I remember and, therefore, we would welcome a primary care centre with all the facilities it would provide. There are primary care centres in Ballymun, Corduff and Cabra and they are magnificent facilities that enhance the lives of the people of Finglas.

I also welcome the fact that a new church will be built. We all have great memories of the old Church of the Annunciation, in which many family members were married, but unfortunately it had reached its sell-by date. We look forward to a new church being built there that will suit the needs of the people of Finglas.

The Minister and the Government should put on pressure to get the project moving forward quickly. I spoke to Brendan Kenny in Dublin City Council, which is advancing the project, and it is going to the design stage. We must push it on. Hundreds of people in the Finglas area alone are waiting for financial contributions and this project, should it proceed, would release much needed houses in the area.

John Paul Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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The redevelopment of the smaller site, as the Deputy indicated, is being taken forward by the council and is supported by the Department. The homes for the elderly are a priority for the Government. The Minister of State, Deputy Jim Daly, held a conference on housing for the elderly last year with the Minister of State, Deputy English. A policy document on housing for the elderly was published within the past 12 months. It is very much the intention of the Government to ensure that a proposal brought forward by the city council will be speedily dealt with.

I have spoken frequently with Deputy Rock about the development of the primary care centre. As I said in my initial response, it is a matter for the Minister for Health and the HSE, but I reassure the Deputy that the funding for the provision of new primary care centres is reserved and is, therefore, unaffected by any other project. Each of us as constituency Deputies are acutely aware of the importance of primary care centres. The Deputy referred to the centre in Ballymun. Primary care centres have been developed and are at different stages in the development pipeline around the country. They are crucially important. I reassure the Deputy that funding is not the issue in that regard but a consultation process must be undergone on the ground. Having spoken to my colleague, Deputy Rock, I am aware of the sense of urgency that exists in Finglas to see the two landmark sites redeveloped for important local social need on the housing or community development fronts.