by Kathy Masterson
MOYROSS parish priest Fr Tony O’Riordan has written to Environment Minister Alan Kelly calling for him to intervene in the planned demolition of a house in Moyross that he says is “structurally sound”.
Fr O’Riordan also told the Minister that “several thousand euros was recently spent on this house in recent months where the gable ends were renewed and pebble-dashed and the garden walls rebuilt”.
According to the parish priest, the house was occupied until mid-April and the family who had been living were told they were being relocated to another part of the city “because this house was earmarked for demolition”.
Fr O’Riordan acknowledged that some progress had been made with regard to the construction of new social housing and the upgrading of existing homes, but that this was “painfully slow”.
He told Minister Kelly: “Hundreds of houses in this community have seen a similar fate, and yet only 11 new family houses have been built in recent years.
“A policy of demolishing good housing stock is scandalous especially when money was recently spent on this house. It will take many years to build the much-awaited replacement housing, and the continued demolition of housing stock in this context is something that even at this late stage requires your immediate attention.”
Fr O’Riordan concluded: “There are currently 645 housing units in the estate of Moyross, 45 of which are void. Sadly, hundreds of houses have been demolished in a reckless policy over recent years and in many respects we are too late.
“However I believe that deferring demolition to provide housing for even a few families is worthwhile and a necessary move to sustain the much-depleted social infrastructure caused by the unprecedented outward migration of thousands of people in this estate in recent years.”
A spokesperson for Minister Kelly told the Limerick Post: “There has been an emphasis on the thermal upgrading of existing homes and the building of new homes across the regeneration areas. There have also been a number of strategic demolitions required to meet with planning requirements and to reshape and improve the physical environment as well as tackling anti-social behaviour.
“As houses become vacant the Office of Regeneration considers the needs of the residents remaining in an area and having regard to the LRFIP (Limerick Regeneration Framework Implementation Plan). Given the complexities in the process, it must be ensured that while the family are living in a home, that the home is as comfortable as possible. This can often mean addressing the issue of exposure on the property by building gables and in the case of the property in question, the demolition of adjacent properties, which were a source of antisocial behaviour. In recent weeks the family in question accepted an offer to move to a newly-constructed development at Waller’s Well, closer to their family roots, in line with their wishes.”
A spokesperson for Limerick City and County Council said that consultation on the regeneration programme continues in the communities “through a number of structures such as weekly clinics, regeneration committees, resident structures and community project supports”.
“There has been strong involvement and engagement from residents to work in an integrated way towards the creation of vibrant and sustainable communities since the establishment of the regeneration programme. The ability and willingness of residents to consider long-term benefits rather than striving completely for instant solutions has augured well for local resident participation and empowerment.”
