Sir, - Catherine Cleary's article ("Fatima Mansions, a place known to residents as the heroin supermarket" June 20th) was useful, even if the headline provided a good example of the media's demonising and sensationalising that she herself identified as being part of the problem.
Dublin Corporation has produced an Integrated Area Plan for the Liberties/Coombe Area that identifies the need for a focused approach to the problems of the area. The Plan identifies some of the educational, training and housing needs of the community. If the Plan receives funding from Central Government, the potential is there to bring together all sides in a concerted effort to improve the area. At worst, and without the necessary funding it could simply function as a wishlist for tax incentives.
However, funding alone will not transform the area. The State's housing policies have polarised housing provision towards the private and public sector, making it difficult for local authority housing clients to become stake-holders in their communities. The only way in which people in Fatima could buy homes was to move out to the suburbs. This misplaced housing policy led to families who had previously been the backbone of the community moving out.
Dublin Corporation should allow flat dwellers to purchase their homes. In addition, greater support for housing associations and shared ownership from the State would reduce the ghettoisation which has been fostered by tax-incentives for housing within the last decade. A model of estate management which treats housing clients as equals, rather than as tenants requiring training is also required. All of this requires a clear-cut shift in attitudes from housing administrators and policy-makers in both the Department of the Environment and Dublin Corporation.
Finally, some imagination is required in both architecture and planning. Established principles of urban design could allow for the creation of streets and well protected green space and playgrounds within the area. Wellbuilt terrace housing, replacing some of the island blocks could provide the type of accommodation which young families need. This would allow those who have lived in the area all their lives to raise families in comfort.
An integrated approach offers the best hope for the area, but lessons still need to be learnt so that funds and resources are not wasted in seeking a brighter future for Fatima. - Yours, etc., Cllr. Ciaran Cuffe, Green Party,
Fade Street, Dublin 2.