Housing clusters for troublesome families proposed

LIMERICK city council is to discuss a plan to coral troublesome families into special housing clusters as part of the huge regeneration plans being drawn up for huge council estates.

The regeneration agency said families moving into rebuilt estates will have to prove they are not involved in crime. Members of the city council are concerned that these families will move into more settled areas and cause further mayhem with the help of rent allowances from the HSE.

Chairman of the city council’s housing committee Councillor Jim Long said they are now planning to draw up a submission to the regeneration agency based on a housing cluster concept. He said: “There is a lot of concern among residents of settled estates that families who are being moved out of council estates, due to anti-social behaviour and crime are now moving into their areas with the help of rent allowances. My committee is looking at a proposal where a scheme of 20 houses could be built in one concentrated area. We could have 20 together or 10 on the north side of the city and another 10 on the southside where these families could be moved.”