A £100 million redevelopment of Fatima Mansions, one of Dublin's most disadvantaged flat complexes, was announced by the Taoiseach yesterday.
The eight-storey flats in the 50-year-old complex will be demolished and replaced by houses for around 700 Dublin Corporation tenants. The plan also includes an indoor sports centre, a childcare facility, shops, squares, enterprise and training units and play areas. Two acres of the 11-acre site will be used to build 300 private apartments.
The work will be carried out over four to five years and residents will remain living on site during the redevelopment.
Introducing the Dublin Corporation plan in Fatima Mansions yesterday, Mr Ahern said the development marked "a major boost to our drive here with the community to improve the quality of life and to win the battle against poverty, disadvantage and drugs".
"These are some of the best communities in Dublin, the oldest communities in Dublin, and this gives them a real chance of staying in their own communities but getting new and modern accommodation," he said.
The Dublin city manager, Mr John Fitzgerald, praised the enthusiasm of residents for the regeneration programme. He said building was ongoing in Dublin Corporation sites including Ballymun, St Michael's Estate and Bridgefoot Street.
"Fatima is the last, and maybe because of that it will be the best," he said.
An umbrella organisation, Fatima Groups United, said the draft plan marked a much improved relationship between it and Dublin Corporation. "For the first time in Fatima's history, the possibility of real partnership and community participation, if it does not already exist, then it is at least imminent," said Ms Riosin Ryder. "Quality talking and quality listening is happening."
The draft plan provides for a three-month consultation period with residents in Fatima Mansions and surrounding areas, as well as local businesses.
Ms Ryder said residents and the corporation "have our work cut out to ensure that the final amended plan offers an intelligent solution and an international model of excellence."
She said residents were confident the final plan would be very different to that launched yesterday, which she criticised as "a conservative vision of design and delivery".