THE budget allocation for the Ballymun Regeneration
project could be slashed by millions of euro over the next two years sparking
fears that it may not be completed as planned.
Northside People can reveal that the Department of
Environment, Community and Local Government is in negotiations with officials
from Ballymun Regeneration Limited (BRL) in relation to the future of the
project.
While an official budget cut hasn’t yet been
announced, it’s believed that the figure could be in the region of
?¬40 million
over the next two years.
The Department of Environment confirmed that it is
currently in talks with BRL and that the funding allocation for the project
would be announced shortly.
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for BRL said that even with
reduced funding it is committed to ensuring that all remaining families in old
blocks or flats are relocated.
However, local councillor Paul McAulliff (FF) is
sceptical that the project can be completed as planned.
“The fear is that the remaining families will be left
in limbo and that the funding just won’t be there to finish the public spaces
and infrastructure projects,
? he stated.
“We really hope this won’t be a case of history
repeating itself in that Ballymun will be abandoned and left to pick up the
pieces from poor planning.
?
Local TD Dessie Ellis (SF) said that while a
significant cut could be on the cards for the project, it’s vital that the
remaining families due to be relocated are not abandoned.
“There needs to be a commitment that those left to be
moved will not be affected by any cut in funding,
? he stated.
The project is due to be completed in 2014 with a
final figure for the regeneration expected to come in at
?¬2 billion.
A spokesperson for BRL said it was
“actively
negotiating
? with the Department of the Environment to ensure that sufficient
funding will continue to be made available to complete the last 10 per cent of
the regeneration of Ballymun.
“Our priority is to ensure the remaining families who
are still living in the flats are re-housed in new homes, that the demolition
schedule for the last of the old flat blocks remains in place and that the
other valuable social regeneration measures, which are part of the regeneration
of the area, continue in Ballymun,
? she told Northside People.
“BRL knows that the weak economic situation means that
budgets are tighter than ever and we have reduced both our workforce and our
overheads substantially in the last few years, so that the maximum amount can
be spent on rehousing the remaining families still living in the flats and
delivering the final elements of the regeneration of Ballymun.
“We know there will be less funding than was available
in the past, but we are still aiming to complete the essential elements of
regeneration before 2014 and we will continue to work with the Department to
identify and secure the necessary funding to ensure the completion of the
project.
?
A spokesperson for the Department of Environment
insisted that it is committed to the regeneration of the estates and
communities in disadvantaged areas.
“The Department is in discussions with BRL in relation
to a completion strategy for the Ballymun project.
“The Department is fully committed to the Ballymun
project and to meeting the housing needs of the people there.
“Jan O’Sullivan, the Minister for Housing and
Planning, will announce the details of budgets or allocations for the various
housing programmes, including the regeneration programme, shortly.
?
Around 90 per cent of the Ballymun regeneration work
is currently completed. Over 1,700 families are in their new homes, with 227
families still living in the flat blocks.
A total of 215 new homes are under construction and
156 of these will be completed and occupied this year.
Just seven of the 35 blocks remain to be demolished.
It was expected that the last two remaining blocks in Sillogue and an
eight-storey block in Shangan would be demolished this year and into early
2013.
Projected works for next year and 2014 include the
demolition of the final three blocks at Balbutcher Lane and the last 15-storey
block in Joseph Plunkett Tower.