A conference focusing on environmental initiatives undertaken by the Ballymun regeneration project was opened by Minister for the Environment John Gormley this afternoon.
The Greener Ballymun conference is part of the celebrations to mark the 10th Anniversary of the regeneration project.
So far over 1,300 families have moved from the flats and are living in new homes and over 1000 new private, affordable, voluntary and co-op homes have been constructed. A further 700 units are under construction and 900 have received planning permission.
By the end of the regeneration project it is expected that 6000 new homes will have been constructed in Ballymun.
"Now that the physical infrastructure is well under way the regeneration programme is concentrating on making Ballymun a successful town with employment opportunities, strong communities and a better environment for everyone," said Ciarán Murray, managing director, Ballymun Regeneration.
"Today's conference showcases some of the exciting environmental projects taking place in Ballymun which are contributing towards building a vibrant urban community," he added.
Several presentations on environmental initiatives implemented as part of the regeneration project are to be highlighted at today's conference including a furniture recovery and paints recycling programme.
Ballymun is also the first area in Ireland to publish a sub regional biodiversity action plan, which will act as a guide to householders and developers for the enhancement of biodiversity at local level.
Speaking this afternoon, Minister Gormley congratulated Ballymun Regeneration on the new initiative and also spoke about the significant achievements which have been made since the publication of the masterplan for the new Ballymun in March 1998
"It is worth noting that prior to the regeneration programme, 90 per cent of the traffic on the Main Street was passing through. Ten years on, Ballymun is moving from being a "through route" to a destination in its own right.
The achievements to date provide the basis for ensuring that the residents and businesses in the area can grasp the opportunities denied to previous generations, yielding a strong, vibrant and, ultimately, sustainable Ballymun for the 21st century” he said.
