Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 95: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on implementing an estate renewal scheme in view of the growing community crisis gripping suburbs in Limerick and other areas which would involve a cocktail of funding, strategic interventions in health, housing, education and enterprise and which would not be a solely property led tax relief scheme, but a mix of incentives for development and other real investment in communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31186/06]

Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 113: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on the goal of ensuring all neighbourhoods and estates are healthy safe communities, where people have the opportunity to live, learn and work with dignity; his further views on whether in Limerick and other council areas there is a clear pressing need for renewal and investment in suburban estates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31187/06]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 95 and 113 together.

Last December, the Government launched the Housing Policy Framework: Building Sustainable Communities. An important component of this policy framework is the commitment to improve the quality of social housing and particularly, run-down local authority estates by accelerating the rejuvenation of social housing stock. Almost €1 billion has been spent on regeneration and remedial works for local authority housing estates since 1997, and work is proceeding in many of the estates in Limerick.

The Government fully recognises that, problems in disadvantaged areas will usually require a multi-faceted response. Structures are in place to facilitate this through the RAPID programme, for example and through City/County Development Boards and the associated Social Inclusion Measures Working Groups which are in place in many counties.

In addition, the Government have recently appointed Mr. John Fitzgerald, former Dublin City Manager, to lead an initiative to address social exclusion, crime and disorder issues in Moyross in Limerick. Mr. Fitzgerald will work with existing agencies and community groups, to identify immediate actions which could be taken to improve the situation in Moyross. He has also been asked to bring forward suggestions about the regeneration of Moyross and other disadvantaged areas of Limerick in the context of the wider strategic development of the Limerick/ Shannon Gateway. Mr Fitzgerald will be reporting back regularly to the Cabinet Committee on Social Inclusion on the progress being made.