Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 19 May 2026
168. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will reverse the decision not to proceed with regenerating the Oliver Bond flats; if he will prioritise repairs and regeneration of dilapidated Dublin flat complexes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37234/26]
View answer172. Deputy Catherine Ardagh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will expedite the approval and funding process for a regeneration project (details supplied); to address the urgent living conditions of residents; if he will commit to a clear timeline for the commencement of works; and if he recognises that the complex community needs and overcrowding within the complex necessitate a flexible, site-specific funding model that prioritises delivery speed, quality of life and the long-term regeneration of the area. [37545/26]
View answer204. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on funding for inner city regeneration projects; if he will acknowledge the need for housing regeneration to have a separate and distinct funding stream to housing delivery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37552/26]
View answer214. Deputy Máire Devine asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether he will visit locations (details supplied) to view conditions in these social housing complexes which are the subjects of severely delayed regeneration projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37485/26]
View answer600. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of bed spaces that will remain in a location (details supplied) based on his Departments proposals for the regeneration of these blocks as set out by his Department in a letter to Dublin City Council on 27 April 2026. [37104/26]
View answer626. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department will reinstate funding to the Oliver Bond Regeneration Forum which ended in August 2025. [37606/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 168, 172, 204, 214, 600 and 626 together.
My Department remains fully committed to the regeneration of Oliver Bond Flats, including the regeneration of Blocks L, M and N of the complex.
Contrary to recent reports, the significant funding already ear-marked for the regeneration of these Blocks - almost €25 million - has not been withdrawn. The funding remains in place and there has been no decision not to progress these works. At this this point, my Department has requested Dublin City Council to revisit certain aspects of the Council's proposals, namely those that would see a significant number of homes lost following regeneration works.
Ultimately, any revised regeneration approach or project plan is a matter for Dublin City Council, having regard to the current regeneration policy requirements that there should generally be no significant loss of homes arising from the regeneration of local authority social housing estates or flat complexes. While my Department's recent correspondence with Dublin City Council re-emphasised these requirements, it also outlined a possible approach, recognising the overwhelming number of single adult households on the Dublin City Council social housing waiting list, that would maximise the number of homes retained, while providing much needed Studio, 1-Bed and 2-Bed homes.
Dublin City Council is not obliged to advance these proposals, but the Council should have regard to the mix and quantum of homes that can be delivered through alternative approaches, while aligning broadly with national policy requirements.
Only a few hours ago, I met with the with residents of Oliver Bond Flats and the Oliver Bond Regeneration Forum. The meeting afforded an opportunity for a meaningful and productive discussion with the residents on mine and the Government’s commitment to the project, and the need to progress and complete it without further delay.
Some of the housing standards and living conditions within the estate fall well below minimum standards and are unacceptable. This was articulated very clearly to me by the residents at our meeting through their lived experience and through the various health and environmental reports which have been completed on the conditions within Oliver Bond House. It is for those very reasons that the regeneration of the estate remains a priority project for my Department and Dublin City Council.
I commend the efforts of the Oliver Bond Regeneration Forum and the wider Oliver Bond community for their contributions to the regeneration proposals for the complex. I am committed to working with them to accelerate the regeneration works, and provide them with the homes they expect and deserve.
To this end, I have instructed my officials to secure as speedy a resolution as possible to the current challenges and the delivery of the Oliver Bond regeneration project with the utmost urgency. Engagement continues between my Department and Dublin City Council in this regard and I am confident, with further collaboration with the Regeneration Forum, that an agreed regeneration proposal will emerge and allow for a quick delivery of Phase 1 of the project.
A dedicated, and ring-fenced, social housing regeneration funding programme is already in place. Indeed, some €1 billion has already been committed by my Department to regeneration projects across Dublin City through this programme since 2016. This scale of funding unquestionably demonstrates Government's commitment to regenerating flat complexes across Dublin City. Many regeneration projects have already been successfully completed, while others continue to progress. Projects supported by the regeneration programme include St. Teresa’s Gardens, O’Devaney Gardens, Dominick Street, Dorset Street, An Droichead Órga, along with many others.
Department funding will continue to be available for regeneration projects submitted by Dublin City Council for funding approval, with funding likely to increase significantly in the coming years as more Dublin City led regeneration projects are approved by the Department.
Notably, the current Programme for Government commits to continuing and accelerating social housing regeneration schemes across Dublin City. This is reaffirmed by the new Housing Plan, Delivering Homes, Building Communities, which commits to expanding the current model and introducing a revised regeneration and remedial works programme nationwide. I expect to announce details of the revised programme later in the year.
Some €50 million is available this year under the current regeneration programme. Critically, this is only one element of the significant funding being provided via my Department's stock improvement programmes this year.
Some €260 million will be provided through the Department's Planned Maintenance and Voids Programme, Energy Efficiency Retrofit Programme, Disabled Persons Grant scheme, and national regeneration programme, in 2026. This is a 65% increase since 2016, and a 32% increase on the €196 million available through these programmes last year.
While the Department will continue to provide very significant funding to support local authorities' management and maintenance of their social homes, this support is not, and can never be, a replacement for a local authority’s own investment in the upkeep of its social homes. Ultimately, the management and maintenance of local authority owned social homes is a statutory responsibility of each local authority and, to this end, local authority officials and elected members are obliged to ensure adequate funding is provided for this purpose as part of their annual budget process.
