REGENERATION-led projects have been hosting Government officials from Northern Ireland and academics from Queens’ University Belfast who paid a “really inspiring” visit to study best practices.
The delegation included the Queen’s University ‘Placemaking Academy’, as well as officials from the Department of Justice and the Department for Communities in Northern Ireland.
They visited a number of projects in Limerick City and in the four regeneration areas of Moyross, Southill, St Mary’s Park, and Ballinacurra Weston.
The Limerick Regeneration Framework Implementation Plan is one of the largest capital programmes in the State, and the country’s largest regeneration programme.
The plan includes a €253million investment on physical infrastructure, €30m on social projects, and €10m on economic programmes.
Suzie Clifford, Administrative Officer of Limerick Regeneration Directorate, said: “It was fantastic to be able to showcase the wonderful social initiatives that are happening across the four regeneration communities.”
“The Northern Ireland delegation were hugely impressed by the social initiatives that are enabling children and families to maximise their life opportunities.”
One of the Economic and Social Intervention Fund projects visited by the delegation was the Predevelopment Equine Programme at The Bays Youth Academy in Moyross.
Speaking on the visit, Ms Clifford said: “The delegation were really impressed to learn that seven young people from the programme have successfully graduated from the National RACE apprentice jockey programme.”
“The project has had a positive impact on the community, with a number of young people subsequently accessing further education or employment opportunities in the racing industry.”
