Regeneration is not just a word. It is a lifeline for communities that have been neglected for years. In Cork, we have the north-west quarter regeneration. I attended the first meeting in September 2000, 26 years ago. Twenty-six years later, only 99 homes have been built and delivered. Less than €100 million has been spent, which is less than €4 million a year. At the same time, regeneration in Limerick got €513 million, and regeneration in Ballymun got almost €1 billion. This shows the neglect that the regeneration of Knocknaheeny and the north-west has experienced. Why is the regeneration of Cork so far behind the other projects? There are people living in Killala Gardens and different parts of Knocknaheeny and the north west who live in homes that are cold, damp and mouldy and, because they are part of the regeneration, they are left like that for years. The council does not want to spend money on them because they know the house is going to be knocked. Should people be left to live in the damp and cold for 26 years? How many more years must they be left in these conditions? They have been waiting a generation for regeneration. Many people cannot put money into their homes. Why would you put in a new kitchen or a new floor or paint the house? People still do it, but why would you invest in a home when you know it is going to be knocked down? The people who do invest in their homes are spending what little savings they have to try to make the best of the situation. It is not good enough. We want a timeline for when the north-west regeneration will be delivered and completed. I will give an example of how slow things are. There are 24 houses on Kilmore Road, Knocknaheeny. They have been under construction for six years. They built the Elysian Tower in Cork in two and a half years, but they cannot build 24 houses in six years. It is a scandal. Twelve years ago, the international sensations from Knocknaheeny, Kabin Crew, brought out a song called “Knocka Regeneration - Deal With It.” They said they wanted to be heard. They wanted to be known as the children who made a difference to our home. These children are now in their 20s. Their entire childhood was spent waiting for regeneration. That is still not a quarter way towards where it needs to be. There are other areas like Mayfield. The delay in the north-west is having a negative effect on areas like Mayfield and Blackpool. Mayfield is crying out for regeneration. In February 2023, the Tarry Path regeneration was supposedly at the preliminary stages. Where is it? Where is the regeneration for Mayfield? There are empty homes in every terrace. It is unbelievable that homes are lying rotting. There are cold houses with mould, damp and leaks, with guttering falling down and windows that need replacing. Why have Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael given up on working-class areas? There is an area in Blackpool, the most historic area of Cork city, that is crying out for regeneration. It is one of the most disadvantaged areas in the State. There is a brilliant community there that is doing unbelievable, Trojan work. However, who came in and bought up loads of it? Vulture funds came in and bought it up. They closed down doctors’ surgeries, gyms and hairdressers because they only want to make money.

Sentiment score: -0.06

The Minister of State mentioned the seed funding. The seed funding was actually a very good idea, although I will come in here and criticise, argue and disagree with the Government. However, there was a decision to cut it back last year. While €1 million was needed for community projects, only €450,000 was allocated, which was less than half. I think it was actually €1.2 million that was needed but let us just call it €1 million. This was an initiative that was good, with money that was to be spent on social initiatives in the community, and that could have made a difference. To me, this seed funding should have been expanded to other areas because it helped put money for sporting organisations and community organisations where it needed to be spent in the areas that required regeneration. The Minister of State mentioned 2011 when the original plan was changed. That was 15 years ago. Why has it taken 15 years to build 620 houses? That is what they are talking about in the plan - 620 houses. The Minister of State gave a date for it being completed - and I stand to be corrected - of 2028. That Knocknaheeny regeneration will not be complete for at least eight more years. They have not got to the Kilmore Road Lower houses. They have not got to the Dunmore Gardens site or Killala Gardens. This goes back to Hollyhill, Ardcullen, Ardmore Avenue and Courtown Drive, which were the initial part of the regeneration but where the works were substandard. I am from Knocknaheeny. My dad lives there. My mother-in-law lives there. I am proud. It is a brilliant community. Why is Limerick getting €500 million, Ballymun getting €1 billion, and Knocknaheeny getting less than €100 million? Is that fair? We need this to work. We need places like Mayfield and Blackpool to be supported also.

Sentiment score: 0.06