Seanad debates

Tuesday, 6 July 2021

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business

 

9:00 am

Photo of Catherine ArdaghCatherine Ardagh (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I support my colleague, Senator Flynn, with regard to her call that a high-tech, state-of-the-art school be built in the new amalgamated school in Ballyfermot and for that to specifically include a canteen and sports hall. We know Ballyfermot is a very working-class area. The children there need every advantage to level the playing field in order that they have every opportunity, like the rest of the children in Ireland. It is not good enough to build this school without those facilities, which are very much basic in every other school around the country.

I am here today to raise the environmental conditions of the Oliver Bond flat complex. A thorough survey was completed by the Robert Emmet Community Development Project on behalf of the residents in the Oliver Bond flats. It is a very old flat complex, which many of us will know, along the River Liffey.

Some really disturbing results came to light out of that survey. More than 80% of residents are living with mould and damp on their walls, more than 45% feel there are serious fire safety issues in the complex and more than 30% complain of rat infestations.

I ran for election in 2009 and at that stage, a different plan was in place for the rejuvenation of the Oliver Bond flats. Since then, a new plan has been put in place, which is on display at the moment in the Robert Emmet complex. However, it has been literally 15 years and nothing has been done. We have been told now by the council that it will be another 15 years before the current plans on display will be going anywhere. I thank the Deputy Leader for coming to the House today. I really feel that we need to highlight this issue. The regeneration of the Oliver Bond complex must be a priority for this Government. These residents have been left behind in so many ways, especially with regard to the antisocial behaviour that we see and that residents are witnessing. It is not just the antisocial behaviour but the living conditions, for instance, the damp, mould and lack of refuse. It is absolutely appalling. None of us would live like this. These people are forced to. I would really appreciate if the Deputy Leader would bring this matter to the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Darragh O'Brien.

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