Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 207: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the situation regarding the funding of the Ballymun regeneration programme, Dublin; if he is committed to ensuring that the regeneration programme will proceed as planned; when he will reimburse a company (details supplied) for the outstanding €30 million which has been spent; when he will give approval for the housing schemes which were submitted to his Department in 2008 and for which current tenants in the old flats are eagerly awaiting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6438/09]

Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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As with all Social Housing Investment Programme projects, works and related expenditure and the resulting Exchequer funding requirements must be managed by the commissioning authority in accordance with the allocations available to them. My Department has recouped, and will continue to recoup, qualifying costs in respect of the Ballymun regeneration project in accordance with allocations and agreed profiles.

The Ballymun regeneration project was the subject of a special examination by the Comptroller and Auditor General. The Report prepared on foot of this examination, which was published in March 2008, recommended inter alia that consideration should be given to achieving a workable consensus on how risks to the long-term sustainability of the regeneration can best be managed. Ballymun Regeneration Limited is preparing a strategic review of the remainder of the project and its formal submission to my Department is awaited. This review is timely having regard to the changing economic climate and particularly the need to ensure that the regeneration is repositioned so that it can be sustained and consolidation in these changing circumstances. Future developments within the overall project will be considered in the context of this strategic review.

My Department is actively working with Ballymun Regeneration Ltd and the local authorities involved to progress the regeneration of the Ballymun area, with particular focus on achieving best value for money.