The Irish Examiner - Friday, 18 January, 2008

Residents: Relocated families disrupting estates

A NEWLY formed alliance of residents’ groups in Limerick yesterday claimed families being moved to the suburbs from Southill and Moyross, as part of the regeneration programme for the vast council estates, are already causing trouble.

The Concerned Residents Alliance said once-peaceful neighbourhoods are being disrupted by former council tenants.

CRA held a series of meetings in Ballinacurra, Caherdavin, Castletroy, Corbally, Doordoyle, Patrickswell, Raheen and Rosbrien.

In an open letter yesterday to the Limerick city manager Tom Mackey and Limerick county manager Ned Gleeson, the CRA said: “While we accept most of those families who are relocated are law abiding, some families that might be described as ‘marginal’ or ‘at risk’ are disrupting once-peaceful estates.”

They claim displacing problems have devalued property in the suburbs.

The statement added: “Community interests have been abandoned. It would seem the present priority of both the local authorities and the newly established regeneration agencies is to pave the way for developers by clearing the land of people.”

CRA claim there is an ongoing problem with landlords renting to former council tenants who engage in antisocial behaviour.

CRA state: “These people are still in effect council tenants and should be subject to the same rules as those renting directly from the council. Defining these tenants as anything other than council tenants is merely abdicating responsibility on the grounds of a technicality and effectively undermining confidence of the wider community in the council’s commitment to the areas concerned.”

CRA said the reality of increased antisocial behaviour caused by former council tenants had made residents in some suburban areas desperate to get out to live normal lives.

“The policy of purchasing houses in private estates to rehouse people is having a negative affect,” it said.

CRA agrees the regeneration plan for Southill, Moyross and Ballinacurra Weston presents an opportunity for Limerick. “It can remedy existing problems and make Limerick a positive example to the rest of the country rather than a cautionary tale. We would hope what is put in place is not a stop-gap measure, but a permanent solution to the ills of the city.”

The association has called for a meeting with the city and county managers.

| READ FULL TEXT OF CRA OPEN LETTER |