History / Background

The Moyross Housing Estate on the Northside of Limerick and similar estates on the Southside of the City have experienced serious social problems and high profile criminal activity over many years.

In September 2006 two young children were very seriously injured when the car they were playing in was petrol-bombed. This incident led to a National and emotional outcry.

In response the Government appointed Mr. John Fitzgerald the former Dublin City Manager to carry out a speedy and comprehensive investigation of issues prevailing in Moyross and other parts of Limerick City and to make recommendations directly to the Government’s Cabinet Committee on Social Inclusion.

Mr. Fitzgerald reported back in March of 2007 and his recommendations were fully endorsed and approved by the Cabinet.

A key element of the approved recommendations was the creation of two new special purpose Government Agencies for the Southside and Northside of Limerick City and these Agencies were established by Government Orders dated 15th June 2007.

Mr. Fitzgerald was requested by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to chair the two Agencies on an interim basis and Mr. Brendan Kenny Assistant Dublin city Manager was appointed as interim Chief Executive of the two Agencies on 25th June 2007.

A strong Board for each Agency was appointed by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and they consist mainly of very senior officials in relevant Government Departments and Agencies such as the Health Services Executive, the Gardai and the Local Authorities of Limerick City, Limerick County and Clare County.

In addition each Board has three local stakeholders i.e. Aíne Cremin, Principal Moyross National School, Paddy Flannery, Manager of Moyross Community Centre and Michael Tiernan, Limerick Enterprise Network (LEN) on the Northside and Fr. Pat Hogan, Parish Priest in Southill, Anne Kavanagh, Manager of Paul Partnership and Liam McElligott, Chief Executive of L.E.D.P. on the Southside.

In September 2008 three new members were appointed to the Boards i.e Ms. Mary Donnelly, who represents F.A.S and will participate on both Boards, Ms. Ann Bourke who joined the Southisde Board and Ms. Nuala Kernan who joined the Northside Board.

The Boards meet every 2 months in Limerick and under the Government Establishment Orders have a life of 5 years. (To 15/06/2012)

The Boards will at a Strategic level oversee the Planning and Implementation of a comprehensive and integrated Regeneration Programme for Moyross on the Northside of the City and Southill/Ballinacurra Weston on the Southside of the City.

In March 2008 the proposed redevelopment of the St. Marys Park housing estate was added to the remit of the Northside Agency. This brings the total number of houses covered (Northside and Southside) by the Agencies to just over 3,000.