Limerick’s troubled areas set for regeneration

THE people of Moyross and Southill joined in the new march yesterday against social destruction and crime in Limerick’s two biggest council estates.

A massive regeneration programme announced last November also kicked into action as two new boards set up by the regeneration body met for the first time: shortly after 9am yesterday, their offices opened for business.

Over the next three months, regeneration staff will link up with individual residents groups and various agencies to draw up a master plan by next May.

The massive initiative is being based on a report drawn up by the former Dublin City Manager, John Fitzgerald.

This action was decided on by former Justice Minister Michael McDowell, after Southill parish priest, Father Pat Hogan went public in the Irish Examiner about the scale of the horror story unfolding in his area.

Key aspects of Mr Fitzgerald’s report called for the demolition and replacement of more than 1,000 houses of the 2,000 houses in both estates.

He also called for the deployment of a special force of 100 gardaí to the two areas.

Former Dublin city assistant manager, Brendan Kenny is chief executive officer of the two regeneration boards.

He said: “The consultative process is crucial as we must start knowing what people want. What we are doing is to change these areas from the worst to the best in the city. We want to get a vision of how the people who have been through this mess want their areas to develop. We will ask them for ideas on what kind of community they want to live in 10 years from now. When this consultative process is completed, consultants will be brought in to produce master plans for physical, social and economic regeneration by June 2008.”

The regeneration boards met for the first time yesterday and will meet again in a week’s time.

Mr Kenny said: “If people put their faith and trust in this, it has the potential to revolutionise the whole of Limerick city and surrounding areas.”