Minister avoids ‘junkies’ paradise’ on housing project visit
Her small dog appeared slightly perturbed by Minister for Housing Noel Ahern and his entourage disturbing the routine at the new house in Bridgefoot Street in Dublin’s south inner city. Mr Ahern was visiting the new houses on Robert Emmet Close as they are the first phase of the urban regeneration project.
What he didn’t go to see during his visit was the wasteground locals describe as a junkies’ paradise or the builder’s dump alongside the derelict blocks of flats just at the back of the new houses.
Mr Ahern, who is also responsible for the national drugs strategy, acknowledged the rundown blocks presented what he described as a poor visual vista and that there were drugs and anti-social behaviour problems in areas like this.
That’s putting it mildly.
The previous night in the Oliver Bond just across the road a man was shot in the leg and the hip in what is believed to have been a drugs related attack.
Bridgefoot Street is located just off the junction of Thomas Street and James Street in the heart of Dublin’s Liberties. The neighbourhood is renowned in the city centre for its drugs problem.
Following newspaper reports last week that any type of drugs could be bought at the corner where Thomas Street meets Christchurch, there has been a visibly stronger garda presence at that intersection, but locals say the dealers have just moved on elsewhere.
Mr Ahern’s solution is to get architects to design out these problems.
What we are trying to do is design out a lot of the in-built problems of old and to give people proper areas that they can raise their families in and that they can feel proud of,” he said.
The new scheme will replace the existing 143 flats on Bridgefoot Street, Bonham Street and Island Street built back in the 1960s.
But Christy Salmon of the Bridgefoot Street Residents Association said they are concerned the money will dry up and sought a commitment from Mr Ahern that the project will be finished. While the planning and building work is proceeding, residents must live in the rundown block surrounded by derelict buildings where drug addicts inject themselves.
“Let the Minister come down here and have a look at this. The junkies are banging up just behind the walls. We have people living in atrocious conditions,” Mr Salmon said.
