Noel Grealish (Galway West, Independent)

I have been asked by the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donnell, to take this matter as he is unavailable. I thank Senator Andrews for raising this important issue. I am not familiar with many of the issues he raised, but it sounds as though work needs to be done. I will deliver the speech that was handed to me.

The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage fully supports many flat regeneration projects, which ensures that complexes with historical disadvantages are placed at the forefront of regeneration. The project plans for the regeneration of estates and flat complexes are a matter for the local authority concerned. In order to support local authorities in progressing such regeneration plans, the Department of housing is making a number of funding channels available to local authorities and approved housing bodies for such regeneration, including for the redevelopment of flat complexes. These include the social housing investment programme, SHIP, the affordable housing fund, AHF, the capital advance leasing facility, CALF, the cost rental equity loan, CREL, and the regeneration programme for remedial works. For flat complexes that are proposed for refurbishment or a mix of refurbishment and redevelopment, the Department of housing is making funding available through its estate regeneration funding channel.

The Department continues to work with Dublin City Council to further advance flat regeneration schemes and, to date, funding approval has been provided for a number of these projects. I will outline a number of projects that funding has been approved for. In Charlemont, 94 social homes have been delivered and funded through SHIP. In Dominick Street East, 72 social homes have been delivered and funded through SHIP. In St. Mary’s Mansions, 80 social homes have been delivered and funded through CALF. In O’Devaney Gardens, redevelopment as a mixed tenure community has been funded through SHIP, the AHF and CREL. In Emmet Road, formerly St. Michael’s Estate, redevelopment as a mixed tenure community has been funded through SHIP and AHF. In St. Teresa's Gardens, redevelopment as a mixed tenure community has been funded through SHIP and cost rental has been funded by the Land Development Agency. In Dorset Street, redevelopment has been funded through SHIP. In Dolphin House, phase 1 of 100 units has been completed and additional phases are in design. On Constitution Hill, a mix of deep refurbishment and redevelopment has been funded through regeneration.

In relation to Pearse House, which was mentioned by the Senator in his contribution, Dublin City Council has advised that it is further developing proposals to advance the regeneration of this flat complex. Having first received capital appraisal approval in April 2021, the subsequent pre-planning proposal by Dublin City Council for the regeneration of blocks L, M, N and P was to reduce the number of homes from 78 to 44. Due to the shortage of social housing across the country, the Department is not in a position to support proposals that would result in a significant loss of homes. Dublin City Council has informed the Department that it has instructed the design team to review the design strategy and examine all possibilities to ensure the maximum number of homes are available post refurbishment. Dublin City Council continues to investigate all design opportunities and liaise with the Department in order to progress the submission of a revised funding application.