Paul O’Connell visits the northside housing estate where he met some very confused people
MOYROSS residents have voiced their anger and frustration at the slow rate of progress made by regeneration in their sprawling estate, and have expressed concern at confirmation that the cash-strapped government is not ready to deliver on its promise of €1.7 billion.
So what does the future hold for Moyross, where the people have for so long put their trust and faith in the government’s plan to develop their community for the better and to ensure a better future for the new generation?
Regeneration boss Brendan Kenny, is on record that he fears “the plan could now take at least 15 years to complete,” instead of the original 10 years.
He recently stated: “To date, over 300 houses have been demolished in the Moyross area and my fear is that we are going to lose the best families, the ones we want to be in the new community”.
On a visit to Moyross estate this week, this writer became more aware of the growing concern, with many locals voicing their unease at the lack of progress.
Majella Cleary told the Limerick Post: “I’m just after hearing on the radio that there is no money available, it’s a total disgrace”. Crèche manager Liz Ronan, added: “We were promised regeneration and from what I can see, there has been very little delivered on…the government has let us down badly again”. Derek Ward, in his 20s, had this to say: “ The place will be left in rubble; there is no progress being made… all the money we were promised will go to the banks, It’s the same old story”. With the residents of the area becoming more disheartened by the uncertainty of the plan, the people responsible for regeneration need to reassure the community that their plan will be successfully completed. Committee member and principal of Corpus Christi Primary School, Aine Cremin, is, however, optimistic the work will be completed, saying: “Although the funding will not be available as soon as we had hoped, there is a really good vision for the future of Moyross. A great deal of thought has gone into the social restructuring of the area and we owe it to the people to present them with the opportunities to progress”.
She pointed out that bricks and mortar alone would not solve their problems: “It is also up to the people of Moyross to engage with the new environment, parents need to be onboard and the children need and deserve every support available”.
Aine concluded: “Without a structured environment outside of school the children are opened to negative influences, every child in my school has the same ability and capability as any other child in the country, but it must be nurtured and encouraged to fulfil it in every way possible. I believe the regeneration plan, along with the community of Moyross, can play a very positive role in that process”.
