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.”

He said the various agencies could then concentrate on troublesome families and work to move them away from their criminal ways. A greater Garda presence could also be deployed to monitor these houses.

“Not every one in these families gets into trouble, you could have one or two and our idea would hope to address them through education awareness and try and encourage them to integrate,” said Mr Long.

The proposed scheme would have also an incentive aspect to it. He said: “Families who show they want to mend their ways would get a reward of being approved to move into the regeneration estates on a more permanent way. These new houses we are proposing would be a stop gap measure.” He said they plan to discuss the concept at their next meeting.

Meanwhile, the regeneration agency is aiming to improve shopping in the Southill area. Galvone Industrial Estate near Roxboro Garda Station is being earmarked as a retail park.

The proposal will form part of the regeneration plan which will be published in September.