Work starts on €30m project to revamp city’s suburbs

WATERFORD is to receive a major boost with work to begin immediately on a huge revamp of accommodation and services for residents in the city.

Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Eamonn Ó Cuiv has turned the sod on a project for the Larchville/Lisduggan area, where €30 million of public money is to be invested over two years as the Larchville and Lisduggan Area Plan adopted by Waterford City Council in December 2003 is implemented.

The scheme will see €25m spent on upgrading residential accommodation in the city suburbs, while additional residential units will be provided at key sites.

Mr Ó Cuív also visited Manor St John, where a further €5m is being spent on upgrading the historic Pugin-designed building.

The Manor St John project will see the campus fully equipped for a variety of community uses. It will also accommodate a health suite while nearby soccer, GAA and boxing facilities are to be upgraded in parallel with the provision of a playground that will be designed in consultation with local residents.

Meanwhile, Minister Noel Ahern, who has special responsibility across two Government Departments for housing, urban renewal, drugs strategy and community affairs officially opened the 54 homes at the €7.3m housing scheme at Crystal Court in Kilcohan. He was also taken to a social housing development at Ballygunner.

In addition, Mr Ahern visited the Bishops’ Field residential development at Williamstown where a number of social housing units were presented to owner-occupiers who are purchasing their homes under the affordable housing scheme.

Speaking during the double ministerial visit, Mayor of Waterford, Councillor Cha O’Neill, said: “This was an excellent opportunity for us to brief two strategically important Ministers on projects being spearheaded by Waterford City Council across the city.

“Minister Ó Cúiv and Minister Ahern have vitally important responsibilities across the broad community development and social infrastructure spectrum and their Departments are very important partners for the City Council in building the type of city we aspire to be.”

City manager Conn Murray said: “Equality and social inclusion are key priorities for the Council and the type of residential and community developments in the Larchville/Lisduggan and Ballygunner areas that the Ministers visited today are important parts of our strategy to achieve these goals.

“We hear a lot of talk about the need to provide positive alternatives for young people if we are to curb anti-social behaviour and I’m confident the sports and community facilities included in the Larchville and Lisduggan Area Plan will contribute significantly in this regard.”