Cummins says delays to South Inner City regeneration projects “unacceptable”

Newly-elected Social Democrats TD Jen Cummins has called delays to major regeneration projects in the South Inner City “unacceptable.”

The Dublin South Central TD pointed to much-touted regeneration projects such as St Teresa’s Gardens, Dolphin House and Emmett Road as projects which were sold to residents as “transformative” but have failed to materialise. 

She said that the delays to the projects are affecting remaining residents’ quality of life and leading to the creation of disjointed communities.

Cummins, who represents Dublin South-Centra noted that work on South Inner City regeneration started in 2001, but progress is now at a “snails pace.”

Since the regeneration projects started in 2001, Cummins stated that 600 council properties have been lost as a result and that 1,700 public homes have failed to been delivered in that time frame.

As a result of the houses not being built, 2,400 local residents are now on a housing list. 

She also noted that residents of Oliver Bond flats are also “deeply frustrated” that regeneration work at their complex is not expected to start until 2027.

She said that while is is indeed “scandalous” that there has been such a lapse in construction in the context of the housing crisis, she said there is a personal, human cost to poor planning.

“Delays to the regeneration projects also have serious implications for residents still living in the flat complexes, and for the wider Dubin 8 community,” she said.

In the South Inner City, Cummins said “homes have been allowed to fall into disrepair, with residents regularly contacting me about problems such as mould and faults.”

“There are simply not enough maintenance staff available to carry out repairs in a timely manner, which is deeply unfair on those who are paying their rent.”

Vacant units, Cummins noted, are also leading to a rise in anti-social behavior in the area along with the sites themselves becoming “local eyesores.”

“People moving out of their flats for long periods to make way for regeneration is also creating disjointed communities. Given the painfully slow rate of progress, many residents are deciding not to move back to the areas they grew up in, which damages the social fabric of these historic communities.

She said that buy-in from local communities are “essential” to the success of regeneration projects, but delays to the projects are undermining confidence at a local level.

“It should not take almost a quarter of a century to deliver these homes. The incoming government must act on the Housing Commission’s proposal to establish a Housing Oversight Delivery Executive and remove any barriers to progressing these vital regeneration projects.”