The Taoiseach has visited Oliver Bond Flats in Dublin, following a rave attended by hundreds of young people last weekend.
Michael Martin has committed to improving local facilities and ensuring a wider regeneration of the area.
Residents of the Oliver Bond flats were a bit surprised when they opened their doors and saw the Taoiseach arriving this morning.
The area's received a lot of attention since last weekend's rave on the astroturf pitch attended by hundreds of people.
A video of an outdoor party at the Oliver Bond flats in the Southside of Dublin last night.
Over 100 young people attended the outdoor rave, with a DJ#COVID19 #Dublin pic.twitter.com/9NVw0Vnjnl— Barry Whyte (@BarryWhyte85) September 20, 2020
Michael Martin has promised to address the wider challenges facing the area - and giving short term help too:
"Regeneration by itself takes time, but they want immediate works in terms of improving quality of life right now, and over the next couple of months."
"That is something I'll focus on."
Among his commitments are restoring run-down facilities, especially for young people.
These residents say improvements are long overdue:
🗣 “The government needs to step in, we’ve been left behind”
A resident of Oliver Bond flats tells Taoiseach Michael Martin about the problems facing the area.
He’s visiting after a rave attended by hundreds of young people last weekend pic.twitter.com/6tqSAqfs0d— Stephen Murphy (@StephenMNews) September 24, 2020
I'm Grateful He Came Out - O'Connor
Community activist Liz O'Connor hopes the visit will lead to some changes:
"I'm grateful to them for coming out."
"I told him when he came in, it's not a photo opportunity."
"I said You're here for the people, not to get your photograph all over the papers!"
The Taoiseach has promised that residents will have input into the regeneration plans.
