City regeneration plan relaunched in €250m package

Limerick city’s regeneration plan, launched in 2007 with a €3bn goal of transforming four black- spot estates, was reignited yesterday with a revised €250m package over 10 years.

Unveiling the plan at Thomond Park, housing minister, Jan O’Suillivan said: “The clear message to go out today is that the Government is firmly committed to the successful regeneration of Limerick. We are giving regeneration a new impetus, a new focus and look forward to the acceleration of the construction projects throughout the city.”

There was a major public outcry in Jan 2012, when the Irish Examiner revealed that not a single house had been built in the four estates despite €116m having been allocated to the regeneration programme at that point.

Environment Minister Phil Hogan lambasted what was happening, describing it as “a scandal”.

The original 10-year plan set out to demolish 3,000 houses in Southill, Moyross, St Mary’s Park and Ballinacurra Weston and rebuild 2,400 new homes in the four estates.

In 2011, a condensed version of the original 2007 plan was drawn up, and work began on a 33-house development in Cliona Park, Moyross, which was completed earlier this year at a cost of €5m.

Ms O’Sullivan pledged €30m each year from her department up until 2016 to the total cost.

She said: “There is a whole of government commitment behind making this plan a success. My own department’s capital budget will drive the project, delivering housing and funding in large part the social and economic regeneration.”

Limerick City and County manager Conn Murray said the regeneration programme now has a practical and deliverable framework.

He welcomed the government’s commitment to the new plan and added: “At our end we will be constantly monitoring progress and carrying out formal annual reviews to ensure deliverability and efficiencies.”