General factors and dynamics of change

Dublin – as the capital of a rapidly growing economy – belongs to the few cities we looked at which are currently experiencing economic growth. However there are areas characterised by deprivation and social exclusion in the inner city that have been targeted for regeneration through Integrated Area Plans.

Policy responses

By the early 1980s, it was recognised that the city centre’s neighbourhoods were in need of regeneration. The Urban Renewal Act of 1986 made available a package of tax-based incentives to developers, investors and homeowners and was designed to promote private investment in designated inner city areas through refurbishment or new developments. This scheme lead to 10,000 new private apartments in the inner city precincts – primarily occupied by young professional people.

I 1998 a new urban renewal scheme which tried to target some of the issues that the 1986 Act had failed to tackle. These included social, cultural and economic issues which affected the local communities such as unemployment, education etc. The Integrated Area Plans (IAP) was developed for parts of urban areas in most need of physical and socioeconomic rejuvenation. The IAPs are envisioned as dynamic and fluid, revolving around partnership agreements focused on specific themes. A project manager, supported by a multidisciplinary project team, runs each IAP. For each IAP, there is a local Monitoring Committee with representatives from local community, business community, public representatives etc. The IAPs were formulated on a statutory basis incorporating finance and support at both National and Municipal level. Each IAP operates within the framework of the City Development Plan.

Publicly funded projects mostly come from National Government, City Council and some low level EU funding. Additional funding comes from the Community Gain clause, which requires developers to pay a levy for every private residential units and commercial space as designated sites. A key element of Dublin’s urban regeneration was the tax incentives scheme, which made provision for developers gain in return for developing derelict or underutilised sites. These tax incentives will end in July 2006.

The study neighbourhood: Dublin’s inner city

The Inner City of Dublin was subdivided into targeted IAP neighbourhoods where social and economic deprivation was dominant. These neighbourhoods are South Inner city (Liberties Coombe IAP/Kilmainham Inchicore IAP) and North Inner City (NEIC IAP and HARP IAP).

These neighbourhoods have been characterised by large concentrations of social housing with high incidence of unemployment, early school leaving and lack of community facilities, large-scale derelict or disused sites, absence of private investment and poor public domain environment.

To this end, the plans set out key policies and projects to be pursued on a partnership basis and these include economic renewal, education, housing, community development and the physical environment. The IAPs adopted a formal and statutory policy of public consultation and involvement of the community, who were responsible for signing off on the plans.

Progress

The Inner City population in these 4 neighbourhoods has increased by 20% since 1996 (to 2002).

Liberties Coombe: Over €500m of private and €100m of public investment has been injected into the physical and social infrastructure of the neighbourhood. The main achievements are St. Catherine’s Sports and Community Centre, which is an integrated housing and training facility (Foyer Project), demolition and proposed rebuilding of Fatima Mansions housing project, clustering of digital investment through the Digital Hub area, and delivery of childcare and play facilities.

HARP: Over €1billion of private investment, €45m of public funding and €8m of EU funding (Urban & Village) has been invested in programmes in this area since 1998. The main achievements were the public domain Smithfield and Integrated Inter-Agency employment and training programme, which resulted in significant local employment in the various community projects.

NEIC: Over €250m private and €130 m public funding has been invested in the physical, social and economic regeneration in Social Housing Flats demolished and own-door units rebuilt, Liberty Corner Arts and Enterprise Centre, childcare and play facilities delivered.

Kilmainham/Inchicore: IAP tax designated development for residential/retail uses now progressing to planning and construction stage from which community gain will accrue. New Private development activity has intensified and the neighbourhood is experiencing change. First phase of St. Michael’s regeneration completed with €25m investment in new social housing and community facilities with demolition of vacant flat blocks imminent. A further €20m has been spent on renewal of public housing projects in the neighbourhood, Village improvement scheme, paving/lighting/ parking completed cost €1.5m. Luas light rail system operational through neigh-bourhood in mid 2004.

Future plans

Recently, the government has established, in Dublin City, the City Development Board (CDB), which has produced a 10-year city community plan, called 'City of Possibilities' which emphasises on the 'value based' regeneration of neighbourhoods. The CDB comprises a partnership model of city wide level incorporating community, business, political and multi-agency representatives engaged in a collaborative approach to the problems and solutions of the city. The CDB is co-ordinating and monitoring mechanism for Social Inclusion measures with a neighbourhood based approach through the Social Inclusion Task Force.

IAP Plans for the future:

Implementing the units at the Fatima Mansions Project, an initiative called the 'Markets Framework Plan' incorporating redevelopment of the Historic Markets Area, which is now in the consultation process. The NEIC area is developing a Multi-Agency Civic Centre.

Kilmainham Inchicore:

A framework plan is being finalized for the next phase of redevelopment of St. Michaels under a public/private partnership initiative with expected investment value of €180m which will bring about new mixed housing, civic/commercial/ social community uses and significant environmental amenity. A new urban district will emerge at Heuston under a €600m public-private partnership development for high density mixed housing/commercial/cultural/education uses including children’s science museum.