The transformation of Ballymun is progressing on a massive scale. But, as Kitty Holland reports, many of those most affected highlight the failure to take on board their concerns
The regeneration of Ballymun in Dublin was different, said the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern.
Speaking in February, after he had "dropped in for a cup of tea" with one of Ballymun's first tower-block residents to get a house in the €1.5 billion regeneration of the area, he explained it was different because the local people were having a real say in how the project developed.
Nine months on and half way through the estimated eight-year project - to tear down the seven towers and 29 blocks of flats and replace them with a new town and up to 5,000 new dwellings - not all the local people believe they are getting a "real say" in what's happening to their town.
"A lot of people have been misled"; "We are all being completely ignored"; "They told us we could take it or leave it"; "All this is happening without our knowledge".
Speaking with some of Ballymun's residents last week it was difficult to edge the questions in between the invective directed against Ballymun Regeneration Ltd (BRL), the company charged by Dublin City Council to oversee the urban rejuvenation scheme.
Mr Mary Couch, spokesperson for the Poppintree Forum, told The Irish Times, there had been a "total lack of consultation" between residents and BRL.
Poppintree is one of the five "village neighbourhoods within the town of Ballymun" identified by BRL.
Ms Couch cites Belclare Crescent as an example of what she says is happening "all over Ballymun".
The crescent of houses, up until last year, looked out over a large green field, the other side of which was one of the tower blocks. "The kids used to play ball there," she says. She, and residents of the crescent such as Ms Linda Harris and Ms Christine O'Connor, say they were told by BRL that a housing development on the green site would be about 100 feet back from the road and behind a "boulevard" of trees and grass.
The development of housing is, however, no more than 30 feet back from the footpath and some houses reach right on to the path. "The first we realised the houses were going to be right on our road was when they started to be built right out on top of it. People here are very angry," says Ms Harris.
As we speak, a number of neighbours join us on the crescent to voice their annoyance and frustration at the housing development's proximity. They are also concerned about an access road being built through the Belclare estate and into the new development.
"They \ keep telling us it's an interim road but we told them we didn't want it. We already have to put up with cars coming through at nearly 90 m.p.h., and we know BRL - they'll just leave it there," says Ms Couch.
Mr Ciaran Murray, BRL managing director, says Belclare residents had a "misunderstanding" of the situation. It had always been intended, since 1998, that a "tree-lined avenue" would be "created" there - not a green belt between the houses and the road.
It was always clear, he continues, that the new houses would be close to the footpath. "The residents threw it out," he says. "To be honest, it would save us money if we didn't have to street scape. I think the people weren't able to understand what was on offer. It will happen on the new side of the houses and I think when people see the finished article they will come back to us wanting us to do the same for their side."
In nearby Shanghan, Ms Noreen Farrell and neighbours describe themselves as having been "misled" about plans for a "neighbourhood centre". As one of the five neighbourhoods, Shanghan is to get a commercial and amenity focal point, part of which will be a pub. Shanghan residents who spoke to The Irish Times say the proposed pub is opposed by "everyone around here".
"We have lived here for over 30 years and have done without a pub. We don't want one. We don't need one," says Ms Farrell.
Ms Lily Jervis and Mr Paddy Haughey voiced concerns about a pub drawing "anti-social" behaviour to Shanghan. Though they concede a consultation process has been in train since the start of plans for a neighbourhood centre, in 1999, they say BRL does not "recognise" or listen to them.
BRL's consultation process rests on a structure that sees BRL liaising with five neighbourhood forums and the Ballymun Housing Task Force. These bodies are expected to liaise with residents, keeping them and BRL abreast of the views and plans of each.
So, despite numerous residents turning up at meetings to argue against such developments as the pub in Shanghan's neighbourhood centre, or house-building on once green open spaces, if their neighbourhood forum votes in favour of such developments BRL may say they have the blessing of the community.
Mr Murray says it was only at the final public meeting on the Shanghan centre during the summer that objections were raised against the pub. He says "about five" people voiced "strong reservations", but Ms Jervis and Ms Farrell maintain they collected "200 signatures on a petition" against it.
Mr Murray says the whole regeneration project is complex. But he is confident that the vast majority of people in Ballymun will be "delighted" with the "finished product".