The death of a three-year-old boy in Ballymun last month has caused the temporary cessation of eight separate construction projects on the estate. A spokeswoman for Ballymun Regeneration, which has embarked on a 10-year plan to build a new town for 30,000 people, said yesterday that she hoped the stoppage would last only a few days.
The spokeswoman said that Alex Cuthbert was struck by a vehicle when he ran out on to a road to catch a paper. The Garda and the Health and Safety Authority are investigating the incident.
The spokeswoman added that there were 6,000 people under the age of 14 in Ballymun and their safety was a primary concern of Ballymun Regeneration. The present review was intended to "further enhance" existing safety standards, the company said.
The 10-year project to rebuild Ballymun has been under way for two years and involves the demolition of the existing tower blocks.
A spokesman for Friends of the Irish Environment said last night that the project was "flawed" because of a systematic lack of consultation with local residents. Mr Ciarβn Murray, managing director of Ballymun Regeneration, said: "We have always been aware of the need for a high level of safety in Ballymun,"
The new homes for Ballymun residents will have to be built before any of the high-rise blocks of flats can be demolished. It is expected that the first phase of demolition will take place early next year after residents of the first two tower blocks have moved into their new homes. The residents have made it clear from the start of the Ballymun project that they wished to go on living in the area.