One hundred additional gardaí and the demolition of 1,000 houses are among the key recommendations contained in a radical report aimed at tackling crime in some of Limerick's troubled housing estates.
The report was compiled by former Dublin city manager John Fitzgerald, who was appointed last year to head up a Government taskforce aimed at tackling problems of crime, disorder and social exclusion in certain parts of Limerick.
His appointment followed a number of violent incidents, including a gangland murder and an arson attack on two young children.
Mr Fitzgerald delivered his report to a Cabinet sub-committee earlier this week. It will not be published until it goes before a full meeting next month.
Details of the report were published in yesterday's Limerick Leadernewspaper, including a full transcript of the nine key recommendations.
A native of Galbally in Co Limerick, Mr Fitzgerald proposes a number of major changes, the most radical of which involves demolishing 1,000 houses in some council estates and a rebuilding programme.
"There are approximately 1,100 houses in Moyross of which more than a third are not suitable for remediation work. There are also approximately 1,000 houses in Southill, over half of which are in a similar state. Overall then, excluding St Mary's Park, there are approximately 1,000 houses that need serious attention," he says.
"Remedial work on social housing costs almost as much as a complete rebuild and to date remediation work has not addressed the problem in these estates."
Considerable demolition works will be required as part of any regeneration programme, particularly in the Southill area.
"Regeneration of the O'Malley Park area will almost certainly involve intensive demolition, including some of the purchased houses," the reports states.
Other recommendations include appointing a Garda superintendent and a minimum of 100 additional gardaí to specific housing estates.
Mr Fitzgerald also suggests focusing on criminal assets.
"This will involve extensive targeting of those criminals who have amassed assets of any significance from criminal activity. This can be pursued if not by the establishment of a local Cab operation, by significantly intensifying the asset-profiling of these individuals, augmented by the use of national resources and appropriate follow-up action," he says.
Other recommendations include the immediate extension of the city boundary on the north side of the city to incorporate Moyross, which is administered by Limerick County Council.
Minister for Defence Willie O'Dea and Minister of State Tim O'Malley said they would comment on Mr Fitzgerald's report after it was presented to the Cabinet meeting next Tuesday.
Independent councillor John Gilligan, who has campaigned for extra gardaí in Limerick, welcomed the report.