Opposition TD accuses programme for government of being 'silent' on Cork regeneration

A Cork TD has accused the programme for government of being “silent” on the regeneration of social housing flat and apartment complexes in Cork.

Speaking in the Dáil during statements on the programme for government, Sinn Féin TD for Cork South-Central Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire said the Government needs to ensure that ageing social housing flats prone to cold and damp are given a complete overhaul.

“The programme for government is pretty thin gruel when you sit down and look at it,” Mr Ó Laoghaire said. “There are commitments to ‘examine’, ‘consider’, ‘evaluate’ and ‘assess’.

“Where the people of Ireland would have hoped for a significant radical shift in some areas of policy to resolve the challenges we face, particularly in housing and health, they were met with a programme for government that resembled nothing so much as a question mark rather than definite statements.

“An area that the programme for government is not even so much quiet on, but silent on, is the regeneration of flat and apartment complexes outside Dublin City centre.”

Page 113 of the programme for government contains a commitment to “ensure the new Towns and Cities Infrastructure Investment Fund, which will replace the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund, helps to regenerate Dublin City centre as well as our cities and towns”.

On page 130, under the heading ‘Promoting Ireland’s Cultural Landscape’ the programme commits to “work towards the completion of the Cork Events Centre to enhance Cork’s cultural landscape and boost the city’s regeneration”.

Mr Ó Laoghaire highlighted the need for regeneration at social housing flat and apartment complexes in Cork city.

“In Togher, at Togher Rd, Clashduv Rd, Sycamore Place, Hazel Rd, Cherry Tree Rd, and Maple Place, and in Desmond Square, Peter St, Francis St, and several other locations across the city, these apartment complexes have gone well beyond their lifespans.

“The conditions in them are not good enough. In some instances, there is subsidence. There is a great deal of cold and damp. There have also been issues with rodent infestations in some blocks,” Mr Ó Laoghaire said, also highlighting other issues. 

“There is a dire need for the regeneration of these complexes,” he added. He said that “unlike the report of the Housing Commission, the programme for government is completely silent on the issue of apartment complexes outside Dublin”.

Mr Ó Laoghaire said he hoped that the Government would rectify this oversight, as those apartment complexes urgently needed a complete overhaul.

“Regarding housing generally, if the rates of increase in house prices, rents, and homelessness continue during the lifetime of this Government in the same way as they did during the last Government, I dread to think what kind of housing crisis we will have,” he said.

“It continues to escalate.”