Pat Buckley (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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609. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government to provide an update on his current approach to flat regeneration; the way in which he intends to support local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16768/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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My Department fully supports many flat regeneration projects which ensures that complexes with historic disadvantages are placed at the forefront of regeneration. My Department is making a number of funding channels available to Local Authorities (LA) and Approved Housing Bodies (AHB) for such regeneration, including for redevelopment of Flat Complexes:

Social Housing Investment Programme (SHIP);

Affordable Housing Fund (AHF);

Capital Advance Leasing Facility (CALF);

Cost Rental Equity Loan (CREL).

For Flat complexes that are proposed for refurbishment or a mix of refurbishment and redevelopment, my Department is making funding available through our Estate Regeneration subhead.

My Department has provided funding approval for the redevelopment and/or refurbishment of flat complexes in Dublin, including the following:

Charlemont – 94 Social Housing units delivered and funded through SHIP;

Dominick Street East – 72 Social Housing units delivered and funded through SHIP;

St. Mary’s Mansions – 80 Social Housing units delivered and funded through CALF;

O’Devaney Gardens – redevelopment as mixed tenure community funded through SHIP, AHF and CREL;

St. Michael’s Estate/Emmet Road - redevelopment as mixed tenure community; social housing funded through SHIP and AHF;

St. Teresa's Gardens/Donore Project - redevelopment as mixed tenure community; social housing funded through SHIP, cost rental funded by the LDA;

Dorset Street - redevelopment; social housing funded through SHIP;

Dolphin House – redevelopment; Phase 1 (100 units) complete; additional phases in design;

Constitution Hill – mix of deep refurbishment and redevelopment funding through Regeneration.

My Department continues to work with LAs to further advance flat regeneration schemes through both redevelopment and refurbishment and are currently engaged with Dublin City Council on a number of flat refurbishment and/or redevelopment projects including Matt Talbot Court, St. Andrews Court, Cromcastle Court & Old Coalyard Site, Dominick St West, St. Anne's Court, Pearse House and Oliver Bond House in order to ensure that these flat complexes receive the funding investment required and that the number of homes available thereafter to households in need is maximised.

Pat Buckley (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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610. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of additional units that must be provided before stage 2 funding for Pearse House, Dublin 2 can be released; and if he has considered removing the protected structure status of Pearse House to allow the local authority to complete. [16769/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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The project plan for the regeneration of Pearse House is a matter for the Local Authority and I am advised by Dublin City Council (DCC) that they are further developing proposals to advance the regeneration of this complex.

The initial proposal for the regeneration of blocks L, M, N and P was to reduce the number of homes from 78 to 44. This would result in DCC having to find permanent alternative accommodation for 34 families. Due to the shortage of social housing across the country my Department is not in a position to support such a proposal that would result in a loss of homes.

DCC has informed my Department that they have instructed the Integrated Design Team (IDT) to review the design strategy to examine all strategies for delivering the project that preserves the number of homes including deep refurbishment of all 78 flats in these blocks. This work is currently ongoing and DCC will continue to liaise with my Department in order to progress the submission of a revised funding application.

Regarding the protected structure status of Pearse House, the complex is included in Dublin City Council’s Record of Protected Structures (RPS). As stipulated in Section 51(1) of the Planning and Development Act 2000, the formulation of the RPS is a reserved function of the elected members of a planning authority. Furthermore, as per Section 30 of this Act and notwithstanding Section 28 or 29, the Minister shall not exercise any power or control in relation to any particular case with which a planning authority or the Board is or may be concerned. A review of the RPS is undertaken as part of the Development Plan review process, and a planning authority can also make an addition to, or a delegation from the RPS at any time subject to following the procedures set out under the Act.