Fatima Mansions demolished

PLANNERS have learned from the mistakes of the past when designing social housing, said Minister for Housing and Urban Renewal, Noel Ahern.

But he warned it was not possible to know from the outset how a neighbourhood would turn out, and he said ultimate responsibility lay with residents to shape their own community.

Mr Ahern was speaking at the demolition of the Fatima Mansions flats complex in Dublin which is to be replaced with new local authority homes and support services for existing tenants as well as private apartments and retail units for the wider public.