Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 65: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government in view of the death of a person (details supplied) who was left isolated in a detenanted flat block for over three years, the measures being taken to ensure that vulnerable persons are rehoused as soon as possible in situations like Ballymun, Dublin, where regeneration has slowed in progress and many blocks are left with very few tenants for extended periods of time. [11526/11]

Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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Ballymun is by far the largest regeneration project ever undertaken in this country with a capital investment to date of over €700 million. This ambitious project has an expected completion date of 2014.

Since construction started in 2000, the project has delivered 1,620 social housing units, 105 voluntary housing units and 1,228 private and affordable units. A further 200 units are under construction at present. Six of the seven landmark towers have been demolished and close to half of the original 2,800 flats are either already demolished or under contract to be demolished.

My Department remains fully committed to supporting the completion of the regeneration programme at Ballymun in accordance with the plans and within the timeframe set out. This year, some €53 million has been set aside to support the delivery of projects as set out in the work programme submitted by the Ballymun regeneration office. Of this, €21 million of this will go towards new housing construction, €17 million for demolition and infrastructure provision, €5.5 million for social inclusion measures and €3 million to continuing the detenanting of blocks scheduled for demolition.

By any yardstick, these figures clearly show that there has been no throttling back on the Ballymun project.

I was saddened to learn of the tragic incident which occurred last January and I extend my sympathy to the family and friends of Rachel Peavoy. The circumstances surrounding this tragedy were recently considered in the Coroner's Court. I have noted the outcome of the Coroner's inquest and, in particular, that consideration should be given by Dublin City Council to reviewing the de-tenanting process for the remaining flat complexes. My Department has been in contact with the Council and the regeneration office with a view to assisting with the acceleration of the de-tenanting arrangements for occupied blocks. I will be happy to support any proposal from Dublin City Council in this regard.