Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 287: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on the effectiveness of public private partnership projects in view of a number of housing projects under threat in Dublin City in particular the regeneration of an estate (details supplied) in Dublin 8; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20513/08]

Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 288: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on the regeneration schemes underway in Dublin city; the action he will take to ensure that projects already in the pipeline and at an advanced stage will go ahead as planned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20514/08]

Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 287 and 288 together.

The regeneration of estates is a key element of the Government's housing policy statement Delivering Homes, Sustaining Communities and over €120 million has been provided from the Exchequer in 2008 to aid this process. This is in addition to funding from the private sector and from local authorities' own resources. Public Private Partnerships (PPP) are one of a range of options used by Dublin City Council to renew and regenerate their social housing estates and provide new social and affordable housing in the city. PPPs are a way of promoting sustainable development through encouraging social, income and tenure mix in an economically efficient way.

Dublin City Council recently announced that the PPP regeneration projects which it had with Castlethorn/McNamara Construction in St Michael's Estate and O'Devaney Gardens, and with McNamara Construction on Dominick Street, Convent Lands in Sean McDermott Street, and Infirmary Road will not now go ahead as planned. The Council is working with its tenants to explore options for regenerating the five areas concerned and is also to examine all the social, economic and legal implications of the recent announcements, with a view to putting forward alternative proposals so that the process for the regeneration of these areas can proceed. My Department will be actively engaging with the City Council in relation to alternative proposals for these projects. It will also be considering the wider implications, if any, for the approach to PPPs generally.