Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 110: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government when approval was last given to a company (details supplied) to accept a tender and commence construction; the approval given in 2009; the number of projects from the company or Dublin City Council relating to Ballymun currently awaiting approval from his Department; if same will be summarised and listed; and the tenders which will be approved before the end of 2009 for financing from the 2010 allocation. [32914/09]

Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Government has demonstrated strong commitment to the Ballymun Regeneration Project with almost €630 million in Exchequer funding devoted to the project to date. While an allocation of €45 million was provided in 2009, it has been possible, on foot of significant progress made on the project and the reallocation of funds between programmes, to recoup some €52.4 million in respect of Ballymun Regeneration Limited (BRL) projects to date this year. It is anticipated that further recoupment will be made over the remainder of the year. In addition, further specific funding of €20 million was identified in Dublin City Council's main Social Housing allocation for 2009 to fund detenanting associated with its various regeneration projects including Ballymun.

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. BRL has completed a strategic review of the project and, in July 2009, submitted a revised Housing Strategy setting out a programme of prioritisation of developments considered essential to the completion of the Ballymun project from 2009 to 2014. The Strategy identifies 24 public housing projects comprising 1431 units completed to date, 5 projects comprising 312 units currently under construction and a further 10 projects comprising 347 units proposed for phased construction from 2009 to 2014. The latter 10 projects are located across the Balcurris, Coultry, Shangan and Sillogue areas of Ballymun. My Department is currently finalising its consideration of the Housing Strategy, and associated documentation, with a view to ensuring the successful delivery of the programme in terms of prioritisation, scheduling and maximising value for money from proposed public and private investments in its component parts.

The documents now with my Department include proposals for advancing a number of individual BRL housing projects and these are the subject of further technical review by my Department in consultation with BRL. The current stage and future phasing of the individual priority projects are due to be reviewed as part of the upcoming October Housing Action Plan meetings between my Department, Dublin City Council and BRL 2010 funding allocations for BRL projects will be determined in light of inter alia the forthcoming meetings and the 2010 estimates process.