Ann Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I am delighted to be able to respond on behalf of the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Alan Kelly. Senator Colm Burke has raised an extremely important issue for Cork city. My Department's regeneration programme targets the country's most disadvantaged communities - those defined by social exclusion, unemployment and anti-social behaviour. My Department currently supports an ambitious programme of regeneration projects in various locations, which seek to address the causes of disadvantage in the estates concerned through a holistic programme of physical, social and economic regeneration. The value placed on the regeneration programme is explicitly recognised in the programme for Government. It is the stated objective of the Department to ensure that this important programme continues to be supported.

As part of this work, my Department has been supporting Cork City Council's implementation strategy for the regeneration of Cork city north-west. Over the last six years, €45 million has been invested in this area and this investment has supported a number of valuable construction projects, including Knocknaheeny block D, The Glen phase two and the purchase of 53 new houses and apartments at Ard Sionnach.These new units provided replacement social housing stock for units to be demolished as part of the regeneration programme. Other projects that have been advanced under the regeneration programme include public realm works at Boyce's Street and at Dunnycove estate, where green areas have been restored to provide sport and recreational space for the local residents. A community garden has also been provided as part of the overall regeneration of the area.

The revised Cork city north-west regeneration master plan was produced in 2011 and it now includes a wider area, including Hollyhill, than it originally covered.

In respect of upcoming work, construction of 23 new social houses under phase 1A of the programme commenced in 2014 and has progressed well, with ten units expected to be completed by July 2015 and the remaining 13 units also delivered later this year. Planning approval was sought for phase 1B in late 2014 and it is anticipated that construction will commence later in 2015. In respect of phase 2 of the programme, plans for the design, tenure mix and decanting of social housing units are progressing well.

Cork City Council submitted its 2015 regeneration work programme to my Department last week. This details the estimated expenditure across the range of projects within the overall regeneration programme for the year. My Department is now examining that submission. Given the continued support for the regeneration of Cork city north-west, this is a matter of examining the proposed projects and associated budgets and ensuring that appropriate allocations can be made to advance the work involved. My Department will be responding to the local authority shortly on this submission and I look forward to continued implementation of the programme for the regeneration of this important part of Cork city.