The sprawling housing estates of west Dublin, some with seventy per cent unemployment, are among the most impoverished spots in Ireland.
The report identifies specific areas of social disadvantage in County Dublin. The worst pockets of deprivation are neighbourhoods within the housing estates of Tallaght, Clondalkin and Blanchardstown, where unemployment reaches seventy per cent, almost three times the county average.
Dublin County Manager George Redmond does not accept that building large housing estates on the outskirts of the city was a mistake. He cites unemployment as the reason these areas are struggling,
Most of the problems are attributable to unemployment.
Dublin County Council is looking for increased funding from government for these areas, but is not optimistic. One member of the council explains what is needed,
An integrated policy for Tallaght, for the west county, for the deprived areas in the county. But unless the people who have the money actually understand that it’s necessary for some of their money to be transferred to those areas, nothing will happen.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 10 May 1988. The reporter is Alan McCullough.
