I thank my constituency colleague, Deputy Ó Broin, for bringing forward this motion here today. The issue of regeneration of inner city flat complexes is not new. I was actually in Henrietta House today, canvassing on behalf of Janice Boylan for the upcoming by-election, and you could not meet a nicer bunch of residents. One woman I was speaking to asked me to come in here to give the Government hell for the conditions she has been left in. She also asked me to say "Up the flats", so I am saying "Up the flats" on her behalf. That is for you, Dee. Dee, and residents like her, do not deserve to be left behind by this Government. My mother originally lived in Dolphin's Barn and my father lived in Keogh Square in Inchicore. They talk about the living conditions back in the 1960s but things have not improved. Dublin City Council has 100 flat complexes built right across the city, which were built between the 1930s and 1960s. Years of poor maintenance by the council, compounded by under-funding by central government, has created a situation where living conditions in these flat complexes are some of the worst you will see anywhere else, never mind in the city. We have seen countless reports of damp, mould, rodent infestation and chronic overcrowding in the flats. There are not enough sport facilities and community facilities, and this is so unfair for hardworking communities who have to live in these flat complexes, like the people I met in Henrietta House today. Do you know what is even more absurd than having to live in these horrific conditions? It is being asked to pay more to live in them. Councillors from Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, the Labour Party, the Green Party and some Independents inexcusably voted to increase rents on these hard-pressed families. You could not make it up. The message from these councillors is, "We are going to leave you in squalor but we are going to ask you to pay more for the privilege."

Sentiment score: -0.11

This is not good enough. This motion we are talking about today calls on Government to fund Dublin City Council's proposed retrofit and regeneration in inner-city flat complexes and to put the views and the needs of the strong, vibrant, long-standing inner city communities at the centre of this policy, like the people we see here in the Public Gallery. They need to be at the heart of this conversation. I genuinely do not think this is too much for people to ask for after decades of neglect. As Deputy Ó Broin said, the European Committee of Social Rights concluded the Irish Government was found to be in breach of Article 16 of the European Social Charter, which protects the rights of the family to social, legal and economic protection, including the provision of adequate family housing. Balgaddy in my area was part of this ruling. Méile an Rí, Tor an Rí, Buirg an Rí and parts of Foxdene Avenue were built almost 20 years ago. Since they were built, there has been constant problems with damp, mould and leaks. I have witnessed water literally running down people's walls. South Dublin County Council has said it is committed to dealing with the housing maintenance issues in Balgaddy, and I acknowledge there has been some progress. However, residents will tell me it is simply not enough. They continue to live in unacceptable conditions, and like the flat complexes in the inner city, residents of Balgaddy are having to pay more to live in these substandard conditions. Sinn Féin Councillor William Carey has done Trojan work in trying to get South Dublin County Council to review the rent increases. However - here we go again with the same names - this was voted down again by Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, the Labour Party and some Independents. Because of them, the people in Balgaddy will have to pay more rent while having to live in these substandard conditions. A working group was set up in Balgaddy but they are working in a vacuum. Elected representatives are not on this working group nor are residents. I have called for this process to be changed so that people in Balgaddy can have their voices heard. Some of the nicest people, my best friends and the best people in my area come from Balgaddy, and it is absolutely heartbreaking to see them being left behind and having to pay more to live in these horrendous situations.

Sentiment score: 0.10

While sitting on his phone.

Sentiment score: 0.00