Regeneration delays have led to the loss of 576 public housing units in Dublin 8 and the non-delivery of over 1,600 promised new homes. 

These findings will be heard at a seminar on regeneration projects later today. 

Regeneration coordinator for Dolphin House and Dolphin Park Manus Bree told Newstalk Breakfast that State regeneration timelines need to be quicker. 

“We brought together projects across Dublin 8 who have been involved and engaged in State regeneration for the guts of nearly three decades, two and a half decades,” he said. 

“Through our conversations and shared learning, we realised that to improve with the State regeneration, timelines have to be quicker. 

“The first regeneration projects in Dublin 8 started in the early 2000’s and haven’t been completed yet." 

“We’re looking at 27, 28, 29 years have taken for the likes of St Michael’s Estate, which is now Emmet Road.” 

A new housing development in Dublin, © PA Archive/PA Images

Mr Bree said that these huge delays are only compounding on the housing crisis. 

“To build and rejuvenate and regenerate multi-storey public housing estates, you need to move people out, knock buildings so that the local authority development agency can build new homes," he said.

"But when people move out, they have to move into existing public housing stock.

“When you have blocks and estates demolished and left vacant for years, that means that’s hundreds of housing units that are no longer available for the local authority to allocate people to. 

“In addition to that is a non-delivery of additional units, because all these regeneration projects entailed an increased density, higher number of units... In most cases, double the amount of homes.” 

Recommendations

According to Mr Bree, the process needs to be streamlined.

"The Housing Commission has delivered a number of recommendations in relation to that, including the establishment of a housing oversight delivery executive," he said.

"Also, more recently, the Taoiseach's department issued a report on Dublin City and highlighted the need for the priorities and the total regeneration of social housing complexes in the city."

Social housing development 1930s pearse house flats in dublins lower sandwith street inner city dublin city centre republic of Ireland.

Mr Bree said claims that these developments will 'hollow out' pre-existing communities in the areas they are taking place are unfounded.

"The existing residents who live there were always promised a new home and adequate housing and modern buildings," he said.

"From our experience, there has always been a positive commitment from local authority, from the Department, from various governments and goodwill recognising the need for regeneration and improvements in the quality of life for people living in these parts of the city."

Mr Bree said the "bureaucratic funding and approval process" has led to a "glacial pace of regeneration".

Listen back here:

Main image: Housing construction, © PA Archive/PA Images