Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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207. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government what additional steps he has taken in relation to the recommendations of the ‘Respiratory Health Among Residents of Oliver Bond House’ report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23397/24]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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The management and maintenance of Dublin City Council’s (DCC’s) housing stock is strictly a matter for the Local Authority. DCC have advised that the Council has been undertaking works to improve the living conditions of the residents as well as the structure of the complex. On an ongoing basis there are four caretakers assigned to the complex. Their duties include maintaining common areas, presenting waste for collection and reporting any repairs and accidents in the complex. These caretakers are assigned to the Oliver Bond complex on a full time basis. All maintenance repair requests are responded to in accordance with Housing Maintenance procedures.

I, and my Department, met with representatives from the Oliver Bond Residents Group, the Oliver Bond Regeneration Forum, and the Robert Emmet Community Development Project (CDP) in February. The meeting afforded an opportunity to discuss the report on "Respiratory Health Among Residents of Oliver Bond House” with direct input from the author of the Respiratory Health Report and academics.

Dublin City Council (DCC) have advised me that their senior engineers have completed a number of measures that are addressing the issues in this flat complex.

All flats in the Oliver Bond House Complex were surveyed for mechanical ventilation and to date, DCC have installed vents in the majority of flats.

DCC are progressing an ongoing programme of warm-boarding units that back onto the stairwells.

In late 2023, it was agreed to upgrade all of the windows within the complex to double glazed. Following the successful completion of two pilot projects, DCC have confirmed that work has commenced and DCC have advised that the full roll-out of window upgrading is expected to be finalised by the end of this year.

My Department and I fully support the regeneration programme and have awarded funding approval to DCC to guarantee funding for the following four projects:

• Stage 1 Capital Appraisal approval issued 16th March 2022 for the redevelopment for the flats in Blocks L, M and N.
• A revised stage 1 proposal was approved in November 2023
• N29-2-1057 Oliver Bond Community Centre
• N29-2-1058 Oliver Bond Precinct Improvement Works
• N29-2-1059 Oliver Bond Social Integration
• My Department will continue to work with Dublin City Council and the wider community in advancing the Regeneration of Oliver Bond House.