An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business
Seanad Éireann — 2026-03-18
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Chris Andrews (SF), Labour Panel

I welcome the Cuban ambassador. It is important that he is here in our Parliament. These are worrying times for Cuba and the Cuban people. Indeed, they are worrying times for the entire world with what is happening. It is important that Ireland stands with and supports the Cuban people at a time when they are facing horrendous terror, in effect. The Cuban people were good to Ireland and it is time for Ireland to be good to Cuba. I also acknowledge the very recent passing of Eleanor Lanigan, whom people will have known from Leinster House. Eleanor was a great advocate and campaigner for human rights and for Cuba. I want to acknowledge that.
Some €581 million will be spent by Dublin City Council to move the civic offices from Wood Quay to Camden Yard. The reality is that the Government and Dublin City Council have no problem finding money when they want to. They have no problem finding the money for new shiny well-insulated offices, but for residents living in tiny flats with damp and mould, and for residents living in substandard flats and houses, the rent just gets higher and higher. There are still no improvements. There is no sense there are going to be any improvements in maintenance. The residents in flat complexes have no prospect of seeing better insulation in their homes. The plans for the regeneration of Pearse House were cancelled because the Government said it could not find the money; it could not afford it. Suddenly, from down the back of the couch, the Government has pulled out the necessary money to support the council's move to Camden Yard. Given that it has been possible for the Government to find money for new shiny offices for Dublin City Council at Camden Yard, it seems that the money from the cancelled Pearse House regeneration and the money from the new rent increases for tenants in Dublin City Council housing will pay for those new offices.
Residents of Oliver Bond House, Countess Markievicz House and Mercer House all have to live with dampness and mould and pay more for the privilege to do so. Effectively, the Government is saying to residents that they can put up with leaks and sewage overflowing in their homes, but it is going to spend the money on new offices. That is hurtful and unfair. Of course everybody welcomes the new homes that will come with this development but why forget about the old homes for families who have been trying to survive in substandard conditions? Regeneration should be for everyone, not only for the council with its new office plans. Regeneration should be for families who believed in this city before everyone left or was pushed out into the suburbs. The money is there and the Government and the council need to regenerate the flat complexes across the city. Countess Markievicz House, Vincent Street and Rathmines Avenue all need regeneration now. The money is there but the Government is choosing not to invest it in flat complexes.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-03-18/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:44+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-03-18