Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 475: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on allowing Dublin City Council to alter the differential rent scheme to charge tenants who live in severely substandard accommodation in flat complexes belonging to the council that have been earmarked for regeneration but for which regeneration has been put on hold a discounted rent until such time as these complexes are regenerated or the accommodation brought up to an acceptable standard; and if not, if consideration will be given to same in view of the fact that the conditions in some complexes are seriously affecting the health of many tenants. [22243/11]

Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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Local authority rents are set in accordance with a rent scheme adopted by each local council. The making and amending of these rent schemes are an integral part of a housing authority's housing management functions, subject to broad principles laid down by my Department in Circular letter HRT 3/2002 of 6 March 2002.

Section 31 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 will replace, once commenced, existing enactments in relation to differential rent schemes. Regulations and guidelines for housing authorities to give effect to section 31 are currently in preparation in my Department. While it is not the intention to introduce a national standardised differential rent scheme, regulations later this year will more clearly set out the matters that may be included in a local rents scheme, including –

- the level, type and sources of household income that may be assessed for rent purposes;

- how dependents will be accounted for in calculating rent;

- the manner in which the size, standard, etc., of any class or classes of dwellings shall be taken into account in determining rent, having regard to the market rent in respect of dwellings of similar size, standard, etc., in the administrative area concerned; and

- procedures for rent reviews.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 476: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on whether it would be possible to grant Dublin City Council moneys that are required to refurbish or bring to a habitable standard the many substandard flats they have in flat complexes earmarked for regeneration that have been put on hold; and if not, if consideration will be given to same, as the conditions in some complexes are affecting the health of many tenants. [22244/11]

Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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My Department continues to work closely with Dublin City Council in progressing its regeneration programme for the former PPP projects at St. Michael's Estate, O'Devaney Gardens, Dominick Street, St. Theresa's Gardens, Croke Villas, and Dolphin House. To support this programme, I have made an allocation of €7 million available to the Council this year to support the construction works at St. Michael's estate, demolition at St. Michael's Estate and O'Devaney Gardens, and for the relocation of households from these complexes to facilitate future regeneration. Under the terms of the regeneration programme, the City Council is required to prepare a comprehensive master plan for each project that considers not just the physical improvements but also the social and economic regeneration of the areas. This holistic approach is fundamental in building and supporting sustainable, stable communities and my Department continues to work closely with the City Council in this regard.

In terms of the six individual projects, the following is the current position:

· Last autumn, my Department approved the City Council's first phase redevelopment at St Michael's Estate, with Exchequer funding of €5.8 million being provided for the social housing element. This project is underway with the original housing substantially demolished and construction commenced;

· Outline proposals for O'Devaney Gardens and Dominick Street are currently going through the statutory planning process following which detailed designs will to be prepared and submitted for Departmental consideration;

· A preliminary report outlining possible options for the redevelopment of St Teresa's Gardens was received in my Department in March 2011 and is under consideration in the context of the overall regeneration programme;

· The City Council is undertaking a full survey of the Dolphin House complex which will be used to inform a programme of remedial improvements there. Remedial works to the plinths have already commenced and the City Council are reviewing the results of a pilot project to address ventilation issues in six units completed recently;

· The City Council is continuing its programme of relocations from all of the complexes, although the level varies between complexes for local and other reasons. These relocations are critical to facilitate the future regeneration of the areas.