Confusion reigns over regeneration programme

THE Limerick regeneration programme — to transform blackspot estates such as Moyross, Southill, St Mary’s Park and Ballinacurra Weston — remains in confusion due to inadequate government funding, it was claimed yesterday.

The head of the regeneration agency, Brendan Kenny, conceded €25 million, allocated this week, will not enable the provision of any new projects in designated areas.

“We have to welcome the €25m in light of the economic climate but, if we want to move to the next level, we need more than that. It will not allow us do anything new — we will remain demolishing houses and purchasing houses through the local authority. But it will not allow us move on to the next phase of building houses and we feel the time is right to do this. The communities are putting on pressure to have this done.”

However, Defence Minister Willie O’Dea and Minister of State Peter Power insisted the allocation, €1m more than last year, was a sign of Government commitment to the regeneration scheme.

The 10-year project announced in October 2008 has a price tag of €3 billion involving the building of 7,200 new houses of which 2,400 are to be provided by the public sector and the remainder by the private sector.

Up to 350 houses have already been bulldozed in the regeneration areas to date, but no new houses have been built there.

Residents already re-housed have moved into suburban areas of the city, with money provided to Limerick County Council by the regeneration agency, to buy properties on the private market.

Fine Gael’s Kieran O’Donnell called on Minister for the Environment John Gormley to immediately clarify the position.