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

I thank the Senator very much. The Government, through Housing for All, is committed to increasing the supply of social housing to an average of 10,000 social houses per annum between 2022 and 2030. My Department is working with Dublin City Council to progress all schemes for the benefit of all and will consider and support the most appropriate funding streams to enable these refurbishments and replacements to proceed. A large number of these flat complexes will be effectively rebuilt while others will be refurbished and, in some cases, will need amalgamations, for instance, two in one, due to the unacceptable size of some homes.

The St. Mary’s Dorset Street regeneration has the potential to achieve an increased number of high-quality homes with high environmental sustainability. It will provide an opportunity for improved site planning and landscaping providing better access. It will contribute to local regeneration and support the council’s strategic regeneration policies relating to the civic spine, Parnell Square cultural quarter and the Grangegorman campus. More efficient utilisation of the site will enable provision of additional development and density. I look forward to the project advancing on-site in 2024, delivering high-quality social housing in 2025 and 2026.

I will follow up with the local authorities and I will go to Dublin City Council. The Senator made a very valid point. I will meet the local authorities to ask them about their projects and what we really want to see. More specifically, she referred to St. Mary's Place on Dorset Street. We want to see houses being built. We want to see the stage 4 post-tender submission. We need to see that from Dublin City Council in the Department. As I said, we want to see JCBs and workmen on-site in early 2024 or as early as possible in 2025.