MINISTER for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government, Simon Coveney, paid a visit to Ballymun last week to hear concerns over plans to end the area’s Social Regeneration Fund.
Last month Northside People reported how the future financing of several local programmes in Ballymun is unclear following a decision to end funding for social projects by 2017 as the area’s physical regeneration is deemed complete.
However, many locals and their public representatives believe that while much work has been done on the regeneration, it’s far from complete, and they’re calling on the minister to continue the fund.
“Social Regeneration is one of the keys to the successful regeneration of Ballymun as it has long been recognised that changes to bricks and mortar alone will not bring about real social change,” said Cllr Paul McAuliffe (FF).
“Since the Ballymun Regeneration Fund was established we have seen transformative changes in economic, social and community life in Ballymun.
“I would therefore very much welcome any decision to continue funding social projects in the area, but I must warn the Minister that regeneration remains a long way from complete.
“While the rehousing project has been completed, we still have many social and economic issues which need to be addressed.
“We hope to see a rise in the number of owner occupied and affordable homes in the area which will increase the level of disposable income and attract more retailers. In order to achieve this we require a policy instrument from the Minister that allows us to develop affordable housing.”
Last month Cllr Noeleen Reilly (SF) called on the minister to visit Ballymun after it emerged the fund was in danger and she was satisfied that he met with the Ballymun4Business group last week.
“I am pleased to see that Minister Coveney has responded to calls for him to visit Ballymun and see first-hand how much of the regeneration has left to be completed,” she said.
“The Minister made a statement that the Physical Regeneration of Ballymun was complete and he can now see for himself that this is not the case as in the middle of the Town centre is an eyesore where once the Ballymun Shopping proudly operated.
“The Budget for the Ballymun Regeneration was cut by Fianna Fail and the last Government to which Minister Coveney was a part off.
“This now needs to be restored so we can complete the regeneration of the town centre as well as provide more housing in the area on all the vacant land.”