ONE of the final milestones in the e1 billion regeneration of Ballymun was reached recently when a new phase to sustain the regeneration was launched.
It’s 15 years since the regeneration project first got underway under the direction of Ballymun Regeneration Limited (BRL) with the aim of redeveloping and rejuvenating the area physically, socially, economically and environmentally.
And now the local community is finally being prepared and armed with tools needed to go it alone and prosper long after the last block of flats is demolished in 2014.
To enable Ballymun to become self-sustainable, a plan called
‘Sustaining Regeneration: A Social Plan for Ballymun’ has been published.
The plan, which covers seven distinct themes including place making, education, arts and culture, recreation and support marks one of the final stages in the regeneration of the Northside suburb.
Former Lord Mayor Andrew Montague (Lab) and local Minister Roisin Shortall (Lab) were on hand to launch.
Cllr Montague described the plan, which would work well as a blueprint for sustaining regeneration in other communities, as
“ground-breaking in its ambitions
?.
“It recognises the imperative to deliver social regeneration across a wide range of public, private and community initiatives,
? he stated.
According to Minister Shortall, sustaining social regeneration in Ballymun demands an inter-agency collaborative effort.
“Creating shared value through effective collaboration is critical to underpin government investment in Ballymun,
? she said.
Anne Keating, board member of BRL explained how key local organisations in Ballymun worked closely with the local community to devise the plan.
“People’s priorities for the future are in the areas of reducing crime and anti-social behaviour, a stronger focus on education and more support for families and children,
? she said.
“Everybody in Ballymun recognises that we have to work together if we are to continue to make progress.
“We’ve made great strides already with things like the Partnership’s school attendance initiative which has seen a rise in the numbers of children in Ballymun attending school to match other areas and the Safer Ballymun initiative which sees the community, the local authority and the Gardai tackling local issues caused by antisocial behaviour.
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A new implementation steering group will be established to implement the plan. The group will include all statutory agencies involved in delivering education, health, employment, local authority, policing, drugs, arts and youth services and the community in Ballymun.
‘Sustaining Regeneration: A Social Plan for Ballymun’ is available to download from www.brl.ie.