Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 911: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the plans he has to ensure that plans for the regeneration of areas (details supplied) can proceed; and if he has met with Dublin City Council, the local regeneration boards or the Minister for Finance to discuss the matter and come up with alternatives to the failed Public Private Partnership Projects in order to deliver the social, affordable and private mix of homes and the other non-structural community aspect of the regeneration proposals now put on hold in five areas of Dublin. [22974/08]

Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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Following the announcement by Dublin City Council on Monday, 19 May 2008, that a number of regeneration projects being carried out through PPP arrangements would not now be proceeding as planned, my Department and the Council have met on a number of occasions to examine the implications of the announcement for the projects concerned. The City Council has informed my Department that, while the developer in question has not formally withdrawn from the projects, he has indicated that due to the adversely changed circumstances of the current private housing market, along with additional costs cited due to increased apartment sizes and new energy requirements, the approach under which the projects were tendered is unsustainable in the current market.

The City Council has since been engaged in discussions with the developer to identify the next steps to progress the projects. Revised proposals have been received for some of the projects and are being examined by the local authority. No contracts had been signed for the projects at St. Michael's Estate and Dominick Street, and the City Council is actively engaged with the developer to establish his interest in proceeding with these projects. On all of the projects the City Council is working closely with the relevant regeneration boards, and has indicated its commitment to the remaining tenants in these areas.

The City Council has undertaken to review all of the options available for advancing the projects concerned, taking account of the outcome of ongoing discussions with the developer. My Department is also examining the potential implications of these events for the PPP housing programme generally and a working group has been established to further this aim.