1950’s

The first residents moved into Fatima from city centre tenements

1970’s

• Local factories closed
• Unemployment begins to destabilize the social fabric
• Crime and anti social behaviour becomes an ongoing problem.

Early 80’s

• High unemployment
• Poor living conditions - dampness/sewage
• Heroin problem takes hold
• Community in despair, sense of powerlessness
• Concerned Parents against Drugs established

1986

• State Response - IR £6.5 million Refurbishment Programme
• - Programme not completed, state cutbacks -
• Refurbishment fails to stop large transfer requests
• Social problems continue...

Early 90’s

• Community severely marginalized
• Spiralling of drug related problems
• A ‘State of Emergency’ declared

1995

Community gather and form Fatima Groups United (FGU).  A Task Force is appointed (comprising State, community/voluntary bodies)

• Basic Services evolved -
• Homework Club
• Youth Project
• Creche
• Drugs Treatment Centre

1997

• Official recognition of the mistakes of the past at conference in Celbridge - willingness to redress and change ways working in Fatima
• FGU employ part-time Community Development Worker
• Massive Rialto wide community Halloween Parade - Burning the Demons ‘Embracing the Future’
• A new and exciting energy for change

1998  

• E.S.R.I. Commission National Study on Social Housing that includes Fatima
• Mary McAleese launches ‘Making Fatima a Better Place to Live’
• Residents demand demolition of flats

1999

• Community consultation with Corporation - viewing of plans/models
• Formal negotiations between Council and community breakdown (December ‘99)
• Pat Kenny - live two hour broadcast from Fatima

2000

• FGU appoint Regeneration Team
• Community back Regeneration Brief
• 11 Acres / 10 Steps is launched

2001

• Taoiseach, Minister and City Manager launch Corporations draft plan - Regeneration/Next Generation
• DCC agree to FGU request for independent community consultation and establishment of a Fatima Regeneration Board
• FGU employ Team Leader and Administrator under Family Resource Centre scheme
• Fatima Task Force dissolves - Regeneration Board formally meets (July)
• Finbarr  Flood appointed as independent Chair
• A Masterplan, Agreement reached (October)
• Halloween Celebration to mark Agreement - huge attendance

2002

• Regeneration Board appoints CEO and Administrator
• Social Agenda Working Groups established, health, employment, arts, education, etc.
• Transition group appointed to oversee the movement of residents to make way for demolition of first five blocks.

2003

• Policy shift on Regeneration - Public Private Partnership approach to delivering Fatima Masterplan
• Final resident moves from R Block to make way for demolition
• Best practice document on transition ‘Two Communities in Transition, One Model of Excellence becomes DCC policy
• Queen Rania of Jordan visits Fatima

2004

• Intensive negotiations on PPP arrangement, agreement reached - champagne opened in FGU offices!
• Demolition of first five blocks begins  

2005

• Construction of Phase One begins
• Taoiseach Bertie Ahearn returns to hand over keys to first home (October 2005)
• President Mary McAleese returns to launch Social Development Plan ‘8 Great Expectations’ (November 2005)

2006

• Majority of residents moved into new homes
• FGU launch ‘Dream, Dare, Do’
• Community celebrates and reflects as remaining blocks are demolished

2007

• ‘Things Can Be Different’ - launched by Lord Mayor -Community development framework using Fatima as a case study for creating conditions for lasting change.

FGU  Butterfly
 Symbol of our Community Regeneration