Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator Fitzpatrick for bringing this Commencement matter. I can see that it is very important to the Senator and obviously to her constituents in the Dublin Central constituency.

I will give the Senator the update she is requesting. St. Mary's Place on Dorset Street is an older complex that Dublin City Council advise is in need of modernisation and my Department supports this through the regeneration programme. The housing complex consists of four five-storey blocks containing 113 units and was built in the 1960s. Dublin City Council advise that the buildings generally suffer from condensation, dampness and drainage problems. The council also advise that there are issues relating to anti-social behaviour - as the Senator has already said - and negative impacts of the layout of the complex.

A feasibility study was undertaken to examine alternative options for the improvement of the existing scheme including introducing additional in-fill development, deep retrofitting of housing blocks, and demolition and redevelopment. The study indicated that demolition and redevelopment offered the best outcome in terms of quality of homes, cost effectiveness and improvement of site usage. I have no doubt the Senator is familiar with all of this.