Housing minister says Oliver Bond regeneration now ‘personal priority’ following meeting with residents
Minister for Housing James Browne has said the regeneration of Oliver Bond House is now a “personal priority” for him and he would be shepherding it “from here on in”.
The comments follow his decision last month to scrap the council’s proposal for the first phase of its regeneration, on the basis of value for money and the fact that it would reduce unit numbers.
Following a meeting between the minister and the Oliver Bond Regeneration Forum earlier this week, he said the conditions some of the complex’s residents are living in were “completely unacceptable”.
A spokesperson for the Department of Housing said funding for the regeneration was still available, but that “some minor details in the proposals by DCC needed to be further discussed and agreed” before proceeding.
“[Mr Browne] confirmed that the regeneration would move forward and would do so swiftly under his direct oversight from here on in and that it was a personal priority,” they added.
“He told the group that a path forward can quickly be found which will both accelerate the process and minimise the loss of homes in the complex. “
The meeting, described as constructive by those in attendance, was held on Tuesday evening and attended by residents, local councillors, TDs, community gardaí and more.
Oliver Bond resident Gayle Cullen-Doyle said she felt the minister was listening to the group, but phase one as previously envisioned still might not proceed.
“He still didn’t give a full commitment to go ahead with phase one, but he hasn’t said it’s not going ahead,” she said.
“They’re going back around the table with Dublin City Council, to have a few more discussions, and then we should hear some news in July.”
Pointing out the damp, mould and other issues in the flats, Ms Cullen-Doyle said the regeneration was not simply about housing.
“This has a ripple effect on health, education, justice, children, so everybody needs to work together and get this right,” she said.
Labour councillor Darragh Moriarty said Tuesday’s meeting “went as well as it possibly could have done.
“The residents did a fantastic job of forcefully, but respectfully, putting forward the conditions [of the flats] and their expectations for regeneration,” he said.
A compromise solution, which would mean fewer homes lost, could potentially be agreed between the Department and council in the next three to four weeks, he said.
“That compromise will probably mean more one-beds at the expense of two- and three-bed homes in phase one.
“If that is to be the case, we need to see phase one in the wider context of the whole master plan for the regeneration of Oliver Bond. We need assurance that we will get a decent mix of homes for individuals, couples and families.”
Works on the first phase of the regeneration were to start in two years, before the minister pulled his support for the council’s proposals.