THE COMMUNITY of Ballymun in north Dublin has been praised by Minister for the Environment John Gormley for taking on initiatives to enhance and protect the environment.
"You are a shining example to other communities across Ireland," the Minister told a conference organised to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the regeneration of Ballymun.
Under the regeneration programme, which is estimated to have cost €942 million, some 1,300 families have moved from the former tower blocks in Ballymun to new homes.
Over 1,000 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 6,000 new homes will have been constructed in Ballymun.
The project has also sought to improve amenities and business prospects in the area. A civic centre, new hotels and a swimming pool have all been completed. A new shopping centre is expected before the regeneration project is completed in 2012.
Ballymun is 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.
"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," Mr Gormley said.
"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."
At the conference several presentations on environmental initiatives, implemented as part of the regeneration project, were highlighted, including a furniturerecovery and paint-recycling programme. Ciarán Murray, managing director of Ballymun Regeneration, said environmental developments in the area were contributing towards building a vibrant urban community.
"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.
