I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, back to the House.
Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters
Litter Pollution
From the outset, I wish to be clear that I fully support and commend all Government schemes and funding streams aimed at anti-littering efforts and environmental awareness. These initiatives have a huge impact in local communities. I have seen this first hand in Tallaght where there has been an impressive growth in Tidy Towns groups and community clean-up initiatives, supported by South Dublin County Council. Currently, applications are open for the 2025 anti-litter anti-graffiti awareness grant, which is a good support for individuals, schools and community organisations seeking to raise awareness around littering and graffiti. This is a valuable initiative that complements the proactive work being done on the ground in our area. South Dublin County Council has developed and is implementing a strong litter management plan. This plan focuses on the enforcement of existing litter legislation, maintenance on enhancement of our public realm, and education and awareness to foster lasting behavioural change.
This leads me to Irish Business Against Litter, IBAL. From the outset, I wish to be clear that I am in agreement with the ethos behind IBAL, and I acknowledge that the core reason it was set up was its founder's firm belief that all citizens have the right to a clean-living environment, something I not only believe but I actively contribute to by volunteering with various Tidy Town groups across Tallaght. The Minister of State can imagine my surprise when I saw the most recent anti-litter survey rating Tallaght as 38 out of 40 towns. I do not deny that, like all areas, Tallaght does have litter issues, but to be ranked 38 out of 40 led me to do some research. I noted that, this year, the areas that were inspected where all in extremely close proximity of each other, and inspections did not seem to venture near the Tallaght village or any of our industrial estates, given that this is a business-focused survey. I found this to be odd, and it certainly was not a broad coverage of Tallaght, which leads me to be of the opinion that Tallaght was not accurately inspected.
Tallaght is often misunderstood or unfairly characterised. Surveys like this only worsen those misconceptions. We have some of the finest parks, beautiful green spaces and a historic village that our community takes immense pride in. Tallaght receives thousands of volunteer hours and significant investment from South Dublin County Council to ensure it is kept looking so well.
As public funds are allocated to IBAL, it is essential that there is appropriate oversight of how it conducts its work, particularly regarding the methodology used in surveys, the consistency and fairness of area selections and the impact such rankings have on community perception and morale. Is there a mechanism to review the methodology IBAL uses? Are there plans to engage with communities before such reports are published to allow them to respond or offer clarification? These rankings do not exist in a vacuum; they are widely reported. They have the power to shape public opinion, investment perception and even community pride. Therefore, accuracy, fairness and transparency are not just important, they are essential. On this occasion, Tallaght deserved better.
I ask IBAL and the Minister of State's Department to reconsider how areas like Tallaght are evaluated, given its size and scale, to ensure broad coverage is achieved. I commend South Dublin County Council, our residents’ associations, Tidy Towns groups and the many volunteers who work hard every single day to keep Tallaght looking so well. They deserve recognition, not discouragement. Tallaght is a proud and vibrant community. Let us ensure it is fairly represented and properly evaluated in all national surveys and reports.
I acknowledge the visit of Stillorgan College of Further Education. I hope they enjoy their tour of the Oireachtas. They are in safe hands with services officer, Jack. I wish them the best of luck. If they were in secondary school, we would let them off homework for the rest of the week.
I met the group in the corridor earlier. I thank them for being here. I wish them an enjoyable visit.
I thank Senator Costello for raising this matter. Under the Litter Pollution Act 1997, the primary responsibility for management and enforcement responses to litter pollution lies with local authorities. It is a matter for each local authority to determine the most appropriate public awareness enforcement and clean-up actions relating to litter, while taking account of local circumstances and priorities. I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment, Deputy O'Brien. The Department provides financial support to local authority efforts to tackle litter through the anti-litter anti-graffiti awareness scheme. Last year, €750,000 was provided under the scheme. The same will be available this year. Funding is also provided in support of a number of important anti-litter initiatives, including the national spring clean, Picker Pals, the PURE project and the Irish Business Against Litter campaign.
The Circular Economy and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, which was enacted in 2022, advances several legislative provisions that would further support local authorities in their anti-litter efforts, including the GDPR-compliant use of a range of technologies such as CCTV for litter enforcement purposes.
Senator Costello raised the issue of IBAL. The Department provided funding of €40,000 a year to An Taisce for the past number of years to undertake the service on behalf of IBAL. However, the Department has no control over the methodology used or the area surveyed, which is entirely a matter for IBAL and An Taisce. IBAL provides independent commentary on the litter picture in 40 towns and cities across the country, and it is entirely appropriate that the Department has no involvement.
Like Senator Costello, I wish to give my thanks to the many volunteers in her area of Tallaght who take immense pride in the work that they do. I understand her frustration and concerns around the projections and commentary. The important point I would make from the perspective of the Department and the Government is that a number of other important anti-litter measures are ongoing, for example, the deposit return scheme, which has had a very strong start in its first year and is now achieving high returns, with the average weekly returns exceeding 25 million containers, demonstrating a high level of public participation in the scheme. To date, over 1.53 billion containers have been return, with €262 million in deposits refunded to customers. That is an extraordinary amount of money. According to the latest IBAL study results, there has been a very significant fall in the prevalence of plastic bottles and cans in the 500-plus sites since the deposit return scheme was introduced last year. As we know, the deposit return scheme is an effective litter prevention measure. Furthermore, the IBAL results show that more towns are classified as clean, with only four areas classified as littered or seriously littered, the lowest level in five years.
More broadly speaking, significant funding has been provided by the Department to combat waste and littering year on year, including €20 million in anti-dumping measures since 2017, which funds 1,500 projects nationwide; €150 million since 2003 to support the provision and retention of local authority waste staff, including an allocation of €7 million to local authorities under the waste enforcement measures grant scheme; a further €3.8 million allocated last year to support the expansion of the role and staffing complement of the waste enforcement regional lead authorities, and the ongoing development of the new waste programme co-ordination office in a circular economy; and €20 million since 1997 in the cofunding of local authority anti-litter awareness and education initiatives, including €750,000 under this scheme in 2024.
The important point to make is that Senator Costello should perhaps engage with IBAL herself. I would encourage her to do so. She is right; there is a lot of anti-litter education work being done in the Tallaght area, and I would hope that residents and those volunteers working with South Dublin County Council can work to ensure they continue to improve their area. It is through anti-litter awareness and education initiatives that we can see everybody engaging in the process properly.
I thank the Minister of State. If it is receiving funding, its methodology needs to be reviewed and scrutinised. This is the comprehensive litter management plan South Dublin County Council has implemented. I really have no concerns about the standard of work from South Dublin County Council with regard to litter management. I am very proud of the volunteering that is done by our community. What I am concerned about is the misrepresentation of my community. When I asked a colleague on my way down whether he thought Tallaght was dirty because we had been ranked 38th out of 40, he said "Absolutely" because that was the impression being given. I disagree. The report is inaccurate and does not represent Tallaght accurately. I am really annoyed about it because it is giving a wrong impression of Tallaght. I do not accept it and I will be contacting IBAL about this. It was a lazy inspection because it covered very little of Tallaght.
I am not happy with the answer. I would rather see if a little bit of investigation could be carried out as a mark of respect to South Dublin County Council and my community of Tallaght.
I hear the Senator's frustration and understand her annoyance, given that there is a lot of voluntary work being done by people that is not being appreciated in this instance. I know the Senator is not happy with the reply but there is an independence. The Department has no involvement. For the Senator's information, the Department provides annual funding to IBAL towards the cost of its annual business against litter campaign but there is that line of separation.
I believe the An Taisce methodology involved attributing a cleanliness rating to each town or city based on a number of sites assessed. The Senator knows best with regard to Tallaght; I have not got that information. If 80% of sites in a town are virtually free of litter, the town is deemed clean by European norms, and the reference to European norms is based on specific research conducted by An Taisce on behalf of IBAL with regard to cleanliness levels in cities across Europe.
I will bring the Senator's concerns back to the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, but I would encourage her, given the depth of her feeling, to engage with IBAL itself. It is important that we applaud the efforts being made by people in Tallaght, and we will work with them and South Dublin County Council to improve. We can all improve, no matter what area we are in. None of us is 100% perfect.
Bus Services
I welcome the Minister of State for coming to take this matter. I am standing here today to highlight the growing demand for TFI Local Link bus services in County Donegal, particularly in the villages of Ardara, Glenties and Portnoo and other areas like the Doorin Line in Mountcharles and Lough Eske by Lough Eske Castle.
The current action plan expires at the end of 2025, and I hope a new action plan will include improved services for the area of Glenties, Portnoo and Ardara. That route is No. 994. I also hope a plan will be put in place for the Doorin Line in Mountcharles, Lough Eske and Donegal town.
Usage has reached record levels, with over 100,000 journeys being done weekly across rural Ireland. This demonstrates the essential service that Local Link provides rural communities. Currently, Ardara has one departure each day, scheduled before noon. In contrast, the Glencolumbkille route has five daily services, with additional options at the weekend, which is brilliant. I could not highlight this service enough. The people are so happy with the service they are getting and it should be the template for moving forward with this service in Donegal. Everybody I talk to, from Malin Beg to Donegal town, is so thankful for this service. I wanted to say that because sometimes things get a bad doing but this is one we are extremely proud of.
There would be an immense benefit for Ardara and Portnoo if we could link the Ardara-Glenties-Portnoo service to Donegal town. It would enhance the travel for people going to Dublin for health reasons, such as hospital visits, or to the airport if we could get everything channelled through Donegal town. Such a service would provide greater accessibility for the communities, allowing residents to travel conveniently throughout the day.
The Local Link service has significant benefits for rural communities by improving accessibility, reducing social isolation and enhancing mobility for residents. These are often a lifeline for areas with limited public transport options allowing people to access employment, education, healthcare and essential service. We have a great service there and we need to enhance it.
There are wee pockets in Donegal that are left behind. I wish we could get these wee pockets a service. It is going very well; we just need to enhance it.
I thank Senator Boyle for raising the matter and for his ongoing advocacy on behalf of the people of Donegal regarding transport and specific routes, including the areas he mentioned. It is a beautiful part of Donegal from Ardara to Glenties to Portnoo. I hear the Senator about the gaps and I look forward to going to Donegal in July to visit with the Senator. I hope we can meet some of the people involved.
A number of Connecting Ireland proposals on the Inishowen Peninsula, Fanad Peninsula and north-west Donegal were implemented last year. We are currently in year four of a five-year Connecting Ireland rural mobility plan with further new and enhanced routes planned over the coming years, including ones in County Donegal.
Further enhancements are planned for the corridors between Glencolumbkille and Donegal town and between An Clochán Liath and Donegal town. Further enhancements are planned for the east Donegal area.
I will specifically address the matters raised by the Senator. The Ardara to Glenties corridor is currently connected to Donegal town by Bus Éireann route 492. We can talk again about the need to provide further connectivity. The National Transport Authority, NTA, is in discussions with Bus Éireann to enhance the frequency of this route under the Connecting Ireland programme, subject to funding and resources. Ardara is also connected to Killybegs by route 991, which is operated by McGeehan Coaches.
The ambition to improve rural transport services was further strengthened by the national sustainability policy and the related action plan, which covers the years 2022 to 2025. The policy, which was published in April 2022, is a cornerstone of Ireland's strategy to transform how people move around the country. As we approach the end of the current action plan and reflect on the progress made in three short years, I confirm that my Department is now developing a successor plan that will outline what can be achieved between 2026 and 2030. My Department has responsibility for policy and overall funding for public transport but neither the Minister nor his officials are involved in the day-to-day operation of public transport services. The statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public passenger transport services nationally rests with the NTA. It works with the public transport operators to deliver the services and has responsibility for day-to-day operational matters.
That said, the Government is strongly committed to providing all citizens with reliable and realistic sustainable mobility options and public transport plays a key role in the delivery of this goal. In the new programme for Government, Securing Ireland's Future, the Government has committed to increasing Local Link services in rural areas to better connect villages, towns and cities. The Senator rightly made reference to travel for health and social care issues. Funding for rural transport programmes increased from €16 million in 2022 to €25 million last year and 150 new or enhanced services have been rolled out under the Connecting Ireland programme since 2022. This roll-out has been successful and, under the plan, 240 new towns and villages have been connected to the public transport network. Some 61 new connections have been established to healthcare facilities and a further 41 new connections have been made to higher educational facilities. The services introduced to date have, as the Senator said, increased exponentially. In excess of 330,000 weekly vehicle kilometres have been added to the TFI public transport network. Passenger numbers have seen a fivefold increase since the roll-out of Connecting Ireland began in 2022, with a record number of passengers. Some 100,000 journeys were recorded in October of last year.
There are a number of corridors in the region, as the Senator has outlined, where the NTA hopes to enhance services, particularly to provide additional evening and weekend services. It is currently exploring the mechanisms available to enhance commercially operated vehicles.
The Department, the NTA and the operators will work to optimise the deployment of resources across the public transport network to match passenger demand. Following the Senator's invitation to visit Donegal, I look forward to meeting him and others involved in the provision of local transport links in the county.
I thank the Minister of State. It is great to hear that he will come to Donegal. The model there is working. There are just wee pockets that have been left behind. If they could be taken into consideration, we would have a scheme that would work for everybody. I know of four elderly people in Mountcharles who have no vehicle or cannot drive. A service to bring them into Donegal town would be great.
I appreciate the Minister of State coming to the House to answer my questions. I hope Ardara, Glenties and Portnoo will be taken into the review and more daily services, like that in Glencolumbkille, will be run.
While I have the Minister of State here, and perhaps I should not do this and I know he had nothing to do with the issue, but I would like him to take back to the Minister for Transport an issue about the A5. It is a major issue for us in Donegal. The project has been shelved again. My phone has been inundated with comments from people on the issue. I would like the Minister of State to ask the Minister to come to the Seanad to answer questions and see whether we can get that project up and running again.
The Senator is right to express his disappointment and that of the people of Donegal in respect of the A5. I thank him for doing so. It is a project to which the Government is committed. It has invested. The decision of the High Court in Belfast is deeply disappointing. I hope that representatives of the Department for Infrastructure in the North and our Department of Transport can meet soon to see how we can work together to ensure the project is expedited. The Senator is right that it is a critical road corridor.
The Senator is also correct that the model in Donegal is working well. I met Mary Coughlan, the chair of the board, recently. The Senator has repeatedly raised the gaps with me, and I thank him for doing so. I am fully committed to delivering a more sustainable, inclusive and accessible transport system for the people of Donegal in future iterations.
I look forward to visiting the Senator in Donegal following his invitation. I will bring back his feedback. It is important, as we focus on the next action plan, that we deliver for the people of Ardara, Glenties and Portnoo in particular, as the Senator mentioned, and I thank him for doing so. I look forward to working with him to see if we can make the plan better. It is working and I thank the Senator for that praise.
Further and Higher Education
I thank the Minister of State for being here. It is always good to see him.
I raise an issue that I also raised last week. I decided to submit a Commencement matter on it. It relates to a course in the Ballyfermot College of Music, which does excellent work. It has a specific course, a two-year higher national diploma in traditional Irish music performance and traineeship in instrument making, repair and maintenance. It is an excellent course. I understand from one of the tutors, Mr. Niall Crehan, that among last year's graduates are two career harp makers, five career flute makers and two uilleann pipe makers. The harp, as we know, is our national symbol. All we need to do is to look at the seats we in this Chamber are happy to sit on to see our national symbol. Any correspondence that comes from the Government or Departments has a harp on it. As a symbol of Ireland, the harp dates back over 1,000 years. In the past, it has also been a symbol of nationalism. I was fortunate that a near neighbour of mine, Ms Mary Keenan, was a wonderful harpist. Growing up, I had the opportunity to listen to the beautiful instrument that the harp is. We should be doing everything to preserve the harp and the making of it. I got to see one of the samples that Niall Crehan brought to a meeting place. It was an absolutely beautiful piece of art, let alone a beautiful musical instrument.
A total of 23 people applied for the 15 places available on the course to start in September. The sad news, however, is that, as of last Friday, the course has ceased to exist. It has been cancelled. This is incredibly wrong. The uilleann pipes and Irish harp are recognised by UNESCO as our indigenous instruments. I honestly believe that a stay should be put on the cancellation of the course at least until an evaluation is carried out. I appreciate that the Minister of State is stepping in for the Minister, Deputy Lawless, under whose remit this falls. He contacted me to give his apologies; he had other important commitments this morning. He wanted to be here to respond to the matter and he shares my concerns.
The bottom line is that we need to do everything we can to preserve our culture. I understand that the amount of money involved is not very significant. We should be doing everything to preserve our traditions and culture, including our wonderful musical tradition. From last year's class, we already have the possibility of ten instrument makers. It is as much about preserving a craft and tradition as it is about the instruments themselves.
I thank the Senator for raising this important matter. I am taking it on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Lawless, who sends his apologies.
In 2011, Na Píobairí Uileann established PipeCraft, a dedicated training facility for musical instrument making. In 2017 they developed a partnership with Ballyfermot College of Further Education for a new programme called Irish traditional music performance and traineeship in instrument making, repair and maintenance. This programme is managed and funded through the City of Dublin ETB. The two-year programme is targeted at traditional musicians and singers who wish to develop their practical skills and musicianship. Learners can obtain a BTEC higher national certificate in music general award after year one, which is comparable to the NFQ level 5 certificate. In year two, learners can obtain a BET higher national diploma in music artist development, comparable to the higher certificate NFQ level 6. Some 139 learners have participated in this course since 2017 and to date 102 learners have achieved a higher national diploma level 6, while 20 have achieved a higher national certificate level 5. It is understood that practitioners and musicians value this programme due to its cultural significance, as the Senator has rightly articulated, as well as specialist skills development and contribution to Ireland's living heritage and culture.
The City of Dublin ETB has advised the Department officials that due to the exceptionality in terms of the high costs associated with delivering this programme, it has taken a decision to move the programme to a two-year cycle. The cost of this traineeship significantly exceeds any other traineeship they provide. The City of Dublin ETB engaged with Na Píobairí Uileann in June 2024 while planning for the 2024-25 and 2025-26 academic years. It advised Na Píobairí Uileann that any further spending would depend on available budgets. It is confirmed that the programme is not being discontinued, but it will run a new intake every second year rather than every year. Learners who have just completed their first year last year and this academic year will continue into the second year of the 2025-26 academic year. The new intake for the first year learners will be in the 2026-27 academic year when the current cohort is complete. The City of Dublin ETB has advised that this approach will allow it to continue to support the programme in a sustainable way.
It is appreciated that this may come as a disappointment, particularly for those hoping to see an annual intake of new learners. I have heard the Senator's concerns this morning. I hope the Senator will appreciate that the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science has no role in the day-to-day operational management of education and training boards, which are independent statutory bodies. In line with its functions set out in the Education and Training Boards Act 2013, it is the responsibility of each board to plan and deliver services throughout the year, subject to their available budget and local needs.
SOLAS has increased the funding allocation to the City of Dublin ETB from approximately €140 million in 2024 to nearly €152 million in 2025, an increase of nearly 9%. This investment supports approximately 60,000 unique learners across a range of programmes. Since 2020, the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science has significantly increased investment in the FET sector by 33%. I thank the Senator again for raising the matter this morning.
I thank the Minister of State. His response is certainly more positive than I had anticipated in terms of my conversations with those in the sector. I acknowledge that the Minister, Deputy Lawless, said to me that under his stewardship no apprenticeship programme would be cut. That is why I was concerned when I learned about this. I am very happy that the programme is not being discontinued but is operating on a two-year schedule. I also appreciate that the ETBs have an independent function. The programmes need to be supported in a sustainable way. My concern is in respect of the 43 applicants for next September. If they have decided this is the course they want to do, I would hope there will be some type of accommodation for them somewhere. In the immediate future, that is my main concern. I do not know if the Minister of State has any note to address that. I appreciate it is outside his own remit.
I reiterate my remarks to the Senator that it is an important course and I thank her for raising the matter. It is not a solace to the Senator but it is a matter for each individual board to take into account allocated budgets and engage with the different stakeholders. The Minister has no direct responsibility. I will bring the Senator's concerns to the Minister and the Department and ask them to reflect on the comments she has made this morning. It is an important course. There is significant investment by the Government in higher and continuing education. As a former director of adult education, I very much appreciate the remarks the Senator has made this morning about ensuring that learners get access to the course and are properly educated and trained. I will bring the Senator's concerns back to the Minister.
Housing Provision
I thank the Minister of State for coming in. I am disappointed the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government is not here. This is a really important issue for so many families living right across the city. There are tens of thousands of people living in flats in inner-city communities that have been neglected for decades. I cannot help but think that the Government is engaging in a form of social marginalisation and is pushing families out from their communities and homes, particularly in older flat complexes such as Pearse House, Mercer House and Markievicz House, which were all build by Herbert Simms not far off a century ago. People's homes have been neglected by the State to the point that many are near unlivable. Residents are being forced to live in completely unacceptable conditions, with rampant mould and pest infestations, broken and outdated utilities, poor security and general dereliction. Massive regeneration is needed across the city to make these flat complexes safe and comfortable places to raise a family.
Residents have been let down time and time again by successive governments, most recently by the shameful recent decision to scrap the regeneration of Pearse House. That has had a devastating impact on so many families. This decision has been absolutely devastating for people in the Pearse House community, who had their hopes callously taken away after fighting for so many years with constant maintenance issues and antisocial behaviour. It is a consistent issue in the flats, all flats and public housing in the inner city. Similarly, over in Mercer House, residents have been dealing with the same issues and have received next to nothing from the State. One family living in Mercer House had four incidents since Christmas of raw sewage flooding out into their flat. There was raw sewage all over the place. Their non-verbal three-year-old child was looking to get in and splash around. It is completely unacceptable and completely unhealthy. The drainage system is nearly 100 years old. It is outdated and not working. The conditions are shocking. I do not have time to list all the problems and issues. This is the reality in flat complexes across the city. Residents in Rathmines Avenue were promised by Dublin City Council that these flats would be regenerated almost ten years ago and they have had nothing done to them. The conditions in their homes are absolutely scandalous. There is no play area, just an overgrown area with wastewater in it, surrounded by dereliction and poverty. Markievicz House is a large flat complex which also has been completely neglected and abandoned by the Government. The conditions there are completely unacceptable, with damp and mould, and weekly sewage leaks. Like all flats, Markievicz House needs to be regenerated.
It has been said that European funding will drive this. Why has European funding not already been allocated to support flat regeneration? Early this week, the Government announced that a new agency was to be responsible for regeneration of the flats and it was going to be headed up by Dublin City Council. This new agency is appointing Dublin City Council to do the work that Dublin City Council has been trying to do for many years but has not got the funding for. They are doing what Dublin City Council is supposed to be doing already.
It is just another layer of bureaucracy. Dublin City Council has not been given the funding to do things right for generations so flats in the inner city have been neglected. I do not think the council will get the additional funding it needs. Dublin is going from bad to worse. It feels unsafe to live and socialise in.
I have been asked by the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donnell, to take this matter as he is unavailable. I thank Senator Andrews for raising this important issue. I am not familiar with many of the issues he raised, but it sounds as though work needs to be done. I will deliver the speech that was handed to me.
The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage fully supports many flat regeneration projects, which ensures that complexes with historical disadvantages are placed at the forefront of regeneration. The project plans for the regeneration of estates and flat complexes are a matter for the local authority concerned. In order to support local authorities in progressing such regeneration plans, the Department of housing is making a number of funding channels available to local authorities and approved housing bodies for such regeneration, including for the redevelopment of flat complexes. These include the social housing investment programme, SHIP, the affordable housing fund, AHF, the capital advance leasing facility, CALF, the cost rental equity loan, CREL, and the regeneration programme for remedial works. For flat complexes that are proposed for refurbishment or a mix of refurbishment and redevelopment, the Department of housing is making funding available through its estate regeneration funding channel.
The Department continues to work with Dublin City Council to further advance flat regeneration schemes and, to date, funding approval has been provided for a number of these projects. I will outline a number of projects that funding has been approved for. In Charlemont, 94 social homes have been delivered and funded through SHIP. In Dominick Street East, 72 social homes have been delivered and funded through SHIP. In St. Mary’s Mansions, 80 social homes have been delivered and funded through CALF. In O’Devaney Gardens, redevelopment as a mixed tenure community has been funded through SHIP, the AHF and CREL. In Emmet Road, formerly St. Michael’s Estate, redevelopment as a mixed tenure community has been funded through SHIP and AHF. In St. Teresa's Gardens, redevelopment as a mixed tenure community has been funded through SHIP and cost rental has been funded by the Land Development Agency. In Dorset Street, redevelopment has been funded through SHIP. In Dolphin House, phase 1 of 100 units has been completed and additional phases are in design. On Constitution Hill, a mix of deep refurbishment and redevelopment has been funded through regeneration.
In relation to Pearse House, which was mentioned by the Senator in his contribution, Dublin City Council has advised that it is further developing proposals to advance the regeneration of this flat complex. Having first received capital appraisal approval in April 2021, the subsequent pre-planning proposal by Dublin City Council for the regeneration of blocks L, M, N and P was to reduce the number of homes from 78 to 44. Due to the shortage of social housing across the country, the Department is not in a position to support proposals that would result in a significant loss of homes. Dublin City Council has informed the Department that it has instructed the design team to review the design strategy and examine all possibilities to ensure the maximum number of homes are available post refurbishment. Dublin City Council continues to investigate all design opportunities and liaise with the Department in order to progress the submission of a revised funding application.
I thank the Minister of State, but his response is disappointing. It is clear to many residents in the south inner city that the Government does note care about them or their families. There seems to be no direction. The only direction is a general descent into dereliction. Looking at the list the Minister of State read out, none of the flats in the south-east inner city are benefiting from funding or regeneration projects. Families in the south-east inner city have been abandoned. They have put up with completely unacceptable conditions, including mould, dampness and antisocial behaviour. It is unacceptable that in 2025, I have seen no evidence to suggest the Government has any plan to do anything to improve the lives of those living in the south-east inner city. There is no suggestion or evidence that the Government cares about families or communities in the south inner city.
I thank the Senator for his contribution. As I said, I am only taking this Commencement matter for the Minister of State, so I am not very familiar with the issues the Senator raised. However, if he wants to send on to me any concerns he has about the area he mentioned, I will pass them on to the Minister and ensure the Minister gets back to him with a response.
As I said earlier, the Department of housing is committed to ensuring tenants in social housing are provided with adequate housing that meets the standards laid down in the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2019. The Department engages with all relevant local authorities on a regular basis regarding the progression of funding applications across all available funding streams for the regeneration of ageing complexes. In particular, there continues to be ongoing engagement with Dublin City Council on the regeneration of inner city flat complexes. The management and maintenance of local authority housing stock, including pre-letting repairs to vacant properties, the implementation of a planned maintenance programme and the carrying out of retrospective repairs are matters for each individual local authority under section 58 of the Housing Act 1966. Local authority officials and elected members have an important role to play in this regard by making adequate budgetary provision for housing repairs and ongoing maintenance, utilising the significant housing rental income available to them as part of the annual budgetary process.
Notwithstanding the legal obligation on local authorities, the Department of housing provides funding under a number of stock improvement programmes, namely, planned maintenance, voids and energy efficiency retrofit programmes and disabled persons grants. If the Senator passes on the details to me or the Minister, I will make sure he gets a response. I thank him for his contribution.
Cuireadh an Seanad ar fionraí ar 11.17 a.m. agus cuireadh tús leis arís ar 11.35 a.m.
Sitting suspended at 1.17 a.m. and resumed at 11.35 a.m.