The quality of neighbourhood life in disadvantaged areas of Limerick and Tipperary varies substantially, according to new research.
A study of four urban neighbourhoods (Moyross, on the periphery of Limerick city; King's Island, in inner-city Limerick; Tipperary town; Thurles, Co Tipperary) found large differences in people's attitudes to the quality of local services, emotional attachment to an area and overall levels of satisfaction.
The study, undertaken by Eileen Humphreys of the University of Limerick, found Thurles, a relatively prosperous place, showed the highest level of resident satisfaction with the neighbourhood as a place to live and the lowest concentration of social problems. The city-based neighbourhoods had a much greater concentration of neighbourhood problems.
But emotional attachment to a neighbourhood was highest in the Limerick inner city neighbourhood of King's Island, one of the State's most disadvantaged areas.
Satisfaction with local services also varied substantially. Residents' satisfaction with services were highest in Tipperary town and Moyross, where the community and voluntary groups have been involved in campaigning for better services.
Trust in institutions was lowest in city-based neighbourhoods, where residents felt they had been neglected by State agencies. Attitudes towards local government were negative in all neighbourhoods, and most negative in the city-based areas.
Involvement in the community was higher in the provincial towns (Tipperary town and Thurles) compared to the city neighbourhoods.
There was also stronger awareness of community or voluntary organisations, particularly in Tipperary town, where the dominant local community group evolved as a grassroots initiative, the study says.
While no major differences were found in the number of family, friends or neighbours on whom residents could rely for support, there were differences in the "intensity of interaction" with them. The greatest level of interaction was in King's Island, and the lowest in Tipperary town.
The study's main focus - determining the level of social capital in the areas, or the level of trust, co-operation, and involvement in the communities - found the provincial towns had a higher level of social capital than city neighbourhoods.
Moyross has the lowest, while Tipperary had the highest. The low level for Moyross was recorded despite the perception that the neighbourhood had strong, successful leaders and organisations. The study also found social capital may often be latent in a neighbourhood and can be mobilised given the right conditions.
