Chris Andrews (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

In recent days, the Minister for housing has slammed the door on the redevelopment and regeneration of the Pearse House flats. This is devastating for the residents of Pearse House, who put up with completely unacceptable living conditions that are getting worse by the day. This is just another example of the Government abandoning the residents of the inner city, and it is a case of further broken election promises. Detenanting cannot begin now, as it was hoped would happen, and any progress has now stalled. The residents are absolutely furious and I do not blame them.

Pearse House is a 1930s building, and the rules that apply to the redevelopment of a more modern building cannot be applied here. We cannot preserve the architectural integrity of the building and also get additionality, which is what the Department is looking for. There needs to be flexibility around this. The residents are absolutely sick and the Government has sickened them further by abandoning them again. The conditions in the complex are desperate. The list of maintenance issues is about as long as that of the Government's broken promises.It is never-ending. If the architecturally important Pearse House flats complex was going to be demolished, The Irish Timesreaders and academics would be up in arms and outraged. None of them are outraged, upset and angry, however, that in 2025, residents in Pearse House and flats right across Dublin's inner city are expected to live in completely unacceptable conditions. The Minister needs to come in here to explain to residents in Pearse House why they have been abandoned again.