Deputy Brady said that when the Department of Housing appeared before the Public Accounts Committee in June this year, figures he obtained showed that the department’s €12 million budget for regeneration remained essentially untouched. “The figures also revealed that of a separate €50 million budget for estate regeneration, the department only spent €37.2 million,” he said. “This is nothing short of a disgrace considering the level of works needed in communities across the country, and particularly here in Wicklow.”
The Wicklow TD pointed to estates like Hillview in Wicklow town, which recently featured on RTÉ’s Prime Time, as clear examples of the urgent need for funding. “Hillview has faced ongoing issues since the houses were first built, yet the Government continues to turn its back on the residents,” he said. “Some years ago, funding was approved for regeneration works in Ashlawn Court in Fassaroe, Bray, but only 18 out of 248 homes were completed because the remainder of the funding was never granted. That is simply unacceptable.”
Deputy Brady also highlighted serious structural problems in parts of Farrankelly in Delgany, where some houses are plagued with dampness and require urgent remedial works. “These are not luxury upgrades,” he said. “These are essential works to ensure that people live in safe, healthy homes. Wicklow County Council cannot provide these works if they are not given the necessary funding.”
Brady continued, “It is essential that the Department of Housing not only allocates proper funding but actually uses the budgets it sets for itself to deliver regeneration projects. There is no excuse for leaving money unspent while families are left to live in substandard housing.”
“I will continue to fight to ensure that estates in Wicklow which are in dire need of regeneration works receive the funding and resources to make that happen. No tenant should be forced to live in substandard housing in this day and age.”