Oliver Bond flats regeneration
Deputy McDonald highlighted severe damp and mould in Oliver Bond and other inner-city flats and asked what the Government would do. The Taoiseach said such conditions are unacceptable and cited Dublin City Council’s regeneration work and interim improvements.
Oliver Bond flats in the inner city of Dublin are 90 years old. If you live in Oliver Bond, you are likely to be living with damp and mould, in conditions that are unacceptable and unbelievable in 2024. A report published today reflects that people living in Oliver Bond flats have a higher likelihood of respiratory illnesses such as asthma. The report speculates strongly that this is a direct consequence of the very poor living conditions that exist. I have to say that I was not surprised at all to hear the outcome of this study. Anybody who deals with communities and families living in the blocks of flats right across Dublin city, Cork and elsewhere, will know that they have been allowed to go to rack and ruin and are desperately in need of regeneration. In my own area I can cite Ballybough House, Larkin House, O'Brien Hall, Kevin Barry House-----
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-----Gardiner Street flats, and Dunne Street flats, all of which suffer from damp and mildew but there is no plan and no Government ambition to change these living conditions. What does the Taoiseach propose to do about this?
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First, everyone should live in safe and healthy accommodation. Damp, mould and cold living conditions are not acceptable, particularly when it is State-provided accommodation. In relation to Oliver Bond, I am informed that Dublin City Council is working on a design in preparation for a Part 8 planning application for the regeneration of Oliver Bond flats, including blocks L, M and N. In the meantime, the council is making a number of interventions including the installation of mechanical ventilation units and the upgrading of windows.
I agree with the Deputy strongly on one point, that regeneration in the Dublin City Council area is far too slow. Senator Mary Seery Kearney has drawn my particular attention to a number of projects in Dublin 8 alongside Oliver Bond flats, for example Dolphin House and Donore Avenue flats, which are taking far too long. It was a specific item of discussion at the last Cabinet subcommittee on housing and it is something I intend to speak to the new city manager about.