Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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I rise to discuss the Government's failure regarding the regeneration of social housing communities. This is a major, ongoing issue. It does not just concern the current Government because it is a wider issue. It is highlighted by several key issues and problems that have manifested themselves in my constituency. In recent days, residents in Dolphin House have begun a process of complaint with the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, stating their human rights are being denied. Dolphin House was built in the 1950s and originally contained about 400 homes. There has been a process of regeneration. Phase 1 has been completed and is incredibly successful, but the reality is that phases 2 and 3 have been hit with ongoing severe delays. The regeneration has completely stalled. In the words of the residents, it is crumbling under the weight of neglect. There are significant numbers of boarded-up homes affecting what is normally a vibrant community and the mental health of the residents. The people are frustrated that the community is collapsing around them because of the failure to drive the regeneration.

This reflects the circumstances in the Oliver Bond housing complex, which is also suffering from failed, stalled regeneration. There are issues owing to damp, mould, the lack of facilities, crime, open drug dealing and antisocial behaviour. Earlier this year, we saw reports that the health impacts are so severe in Oliver Bond flats that the residents present with double the amount of respiratory illness evident in the rest of Dublin. St. Michael's Estate, Inchicore, was demolished about 21 years ago with the promise of regeneration – regeneration we have yet to see. Therefore, there is a much wider, deeper problem.

The problem is really deep because we are throwing communities to the wolves. We are not providing for the regeneration they need to have modern housing. We are condemning them to live in unfit housing. We are undermining their communities when we start and stop regeneration, as has happened at Dolphin House. We are contributing to the housing crisis by failing to provide housing and to a decline in mental health. Equally, we are contributing just as much to poverty, social exclusion and a lack of social cohesion. We have seen that there are groups willing to exploit that to attack and undermine our democracy as a whole. Failed regeneration is a huge problem. It is not just a problem for our local authorities because there is a Department responsible for these. That Department, which should be driving the regeneration, is in reality probably getting in the way of it, requiring overly burdensome paperwork and failing to provide the supports and funding needed while wrapping every project up in red tape. I ask the Minister of State, what the hell are we going to do to get regeneration moving for the three estates I have mentioned, as well as the many others around the country that need it, too?

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I thank Deputy Costello for raising this issue, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister for housing. I am glad to have the opportunity to discuss Dublin City Council's redevelopment plans for social housing complexes.

The Department of housing is committed to ensuring that tenants in social housing are provided with adequate housing that meets the standards most recently laid down in the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2019. The Department is actively engaging with the local authority sector to promote the preventative maintenance of local authority housing stock and provides significant funding for stock improvement works. While funding is available from the Department for the regeneration of inner-city flat complexes; it is a matter for the local authorities to submit for funding approval to the Department.

Through the Department's estate regeneration programme, Dublin City Council is working on the regeneration of Dolphin House. One hundred social housing units were completed in 2019 and a further 28 units are in preparation. The council advises that later phases will see the completion of the regeneration of the existing estate and deliver a total of over 750 homes, alongside the provision of community amenities, including a community centre and park. The council advises that work is currently under way in procuring the environmental impact assessment report and a Part 10 planning lodgement to meet statutory planning requirements for these later phases. In the meantime, the council advises that it is making a number of interventions to improve the conditions of the existing flats.

The Department of housing fully supports the regeneration programme for the Oliver Bond House complex and has awarded funding approval to Dublin City Council for key projects, commencing with the redevelopment of the flats in blocks L, M and N. Dublin City Council's city architects division will lead a consultant design team on developing the design ahead of submitting a Part 8 planning application. A feasibility study is being undertaken by the council to examine the options available for the community centre linked to the regeneration of Oliver Bond House. Work continues within the council to bring the project to its next stage. I am advised by the Minister that, in parallel with upgrading measures, precinct improvement works have been carried out around the estate to enhance the outdoor community spaces. In the interim, the council advises that all of the existing units have been surveyed for mechanical ventilation and to date, it has installed vents in 309 units. Furthermore, 400 windows in 55 residential units have been replaced.

Following the successful completion of two pilot projects, the council has advised that the full rolling out of window upgrading is expected to be finalised by the end of this year. The council is progressing the ongoing programme of warm-boarding units that back onto the stairwells.

The Emmet Road mixed-tenure development will transform the St. Michael's Estate site into a vibrant, residential-led neighbourhood. Planning permission was granted by An Bord Pleanála in July 2023 for 578 units, and the project will see the delivery of 137 social and 441 cost-rental homes. The mixed-use development includes a library, crèche, supermarket, retail units, public realm and landscape works, and a series of new public open spaces, all of which aim to create a sense of community within a sustainable and thriving new quarter of Dublin city. Under current project plans, the tender process and enabling works on the site will begin in quarter 4 this year, with construction beginning in 2025 and homes delivered on a phased basis from 2027 to 2028.

The council has advised the Department that it does not have any immediate plans for the redevelopment of the Summer Street flats.

Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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While I thank the Minister of State for his reply, I believe some of the facts he has offered highlight the very problem I am talking about. With respect to Dolphin House, 100 social units have been completed and a further 28 are in preparation, but that amounts to 128 out of 750, as the Minister of State mentioned. Community amenities, including a community centre and community park, are also to be provided.

It is five years since phase 1 was developed. Phases 2 and 3 seem to be in the distant future, without any sign of meaningful completion. Again, I point to the example of St. Michael's House. It was demolished 21 years ago but we still have to see the regeneration. Therefore, there is a deeper problem. The tone of the Minister of State's response is such that it places the responsibility back with Dublin City Council but councils in general struggle due to a lack of staff. The issue of council staffing is very much in the hands of the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform. Dublin City Council cannot hire street sweepers, engineers or architects without the sign-off of that Department. Therefore, it is an issue for central government, not Dublin City Council.

Councils face funding challenges in getting these homes built. This has been a significant contributor to the delays at St. Michael's House, which was demolished about 21 years ago.

I would hate to see Oliver Bond flats or Dolphin House hitting that milestone. Equally, councils struggle because Dublin City Council constantly has to run back to the Department of housing because the Custom House weighs heavy on them with unneeded and burdensome regulations. We now need help from central government to let the councils do this. We must fund them and give them the staff to make sure this regeneration happens.

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The regeneration of social housing flats is within the parameters of the national regeneration programme, which targets the country's most disadvantaged communities, those defined by the most extreme social exclusion, unemployment and anti-social behaviour, as per housing Circular 11/2007, policy framework for the regeneration of local authority estates. It is the responsibility of local authorities to identify opportunities to advance regeneration programmes in line with this circular within administrative areas. The aim of regeneration projects is to create sustainable communities through a combination of social, educational and economic initiatives and also by rejuvenating the built environment through a mixture of demolition, construction and refurbishment of dwellings.

The Department is willing to fund local authorities for much of this investment. Local authorities, in developing their regeneration programmes, are required to adopt a holistic and strategic approach involving multiple local and national agencies in an integrated scheme to create sustainable communities and to address the underlying causes of deprivation in the area. The Department and the Minister fully support regeneration projects, which ensure that complexes with historical disadvantages are placed at the forefront of regeneration. Multi-year programmes are being funded for large-scale regeneration projects which concentrate on flat complexes in Dublin city that will either be rebuilt or retrofitted. The Department is actively engaging with the local authority sector to promote the preventative maintenance of local authority housing stock and provide significant funding for stock improvement to our works. With the support of Dublin City Council, the focus remains on regeneration projects which target the most disadvantaged communities, including those defined by the most extreme social exclusion, unemployment and anti-social behaviour. I will convey the points the Deputy raised to the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien. There is total agreement across the House to ensure the flat complexes that Deputy Costello mentioned see progress. I will certainly reflect that view to the Minister.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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I thank Deputy Costello for raising that important matter. Before we move on, because this is my first opportunity to do so, I want to extend my congratulations to the Minister of State, Deputy Chambers, on his appointment as the deputy leader of his party. I am conscious that in my role over the last number of years, we spent a lot of time and put a lot of effort into trying to encourage more diverse participation in politics. Young people are among those groups we want to see coming forward. To see a young deputy leader being appointed and joining a young Taoiseach is a move in the right direction. Well done to you.

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Ceann Comhairle very much.