Significant plans to regenerate some of Limerick city's most deprived areas have been revealed a year after two young children were seriously injured in an arson attack.
The plans include the demolition of more than 1,000 houses, the construction of new roads, and attempts to attract new investment.
Following last year's arson attack a special taskforce was established to tackle the many issues that exist in areas such as Moyross and Southill.
Led by former Dublin city manager John Fitzgerald, the taskforce reported to Cabinet in March and subsequently two regeneration agencies - one for the northside and one for southside of Limerick - were established.
Speaking on the first anniversary of the Moyross attack, chief executive of the two regeneration agencies Brendan Kenny said there will be widespread consultation with local communities. "We will ask them for ideas on what kind of community they want to live in in 10 years' time and what kind of a life they want for their children in the future."
Mr Kenny also said that the regeneration plans will not be imposed on people living in the areas affected. "We have no grand master plans, we want to develop them in a bottom-up consultation approach with the local communities in Southill and Moyross."
Boards of directors have been appointed to each of the regeneration agencies and core staff have been employed. Steering committees will be set up in both areas, including representatives from local residents, community groups and public representatives. A number of key personnel from various State agencies such as the Health Service Executive and An Garda Síochána will serve on the boards of the agencies.
It is hoped that comprehensive plans for physical, social and economic regeneration will be unveiled by June 2008.
Mr Kenny said he favours widespread demolition in both areas. "We will ask the people what they think of that - everyone will get a modern state-of-the-art home," he said. "The private purchase of houses will be encouraged - we want a better mix of houses with dozens of smaller estates with shops and facilities around them."
Supt Frank O'Brien of Roxboro Garda station, whose area includes Southill, welcomed the regeneration initiative. "As a result of the Fitzgerald report we now have 55 community gardaí, five sergeants and one inspector working in a community policing scheme and we are expecting additional gardaí to be allocated shortly," he said.
Across the city, Paddy Flannary of the Moyross Community Centre was also enthusiastic. "There is a sense of excitement and expectancy that something is eventually going to happen - people are expecting delivery on this," he said.