Calls have been made to ensure the re-development of site of the Ballymun shopping centre becomes the "heart of the community".
Demolition works began last week on the 50-year old shopping centre which has been left derelict for a number of years.
The Ballymun shopping centre is the last existing building of the 1960's suburb, which included the high-rise towers that marked the Dublin skyline for decades.
Speaking in the Dail, local TD Dessie Ellis raised the site during topical issues and said it is one of the north Dublin suburb's biggest failures.
He said: "Ballymun Shopping centre left as it was became a stark reminder how it was the biggest failure of the costly Regeneration Project.
"It presents an unfortunate and inaccurately depressing image of the spirit of the people of Ballymun.
"The community in Ballymun deserved better. The derelict site doesn’t reflect the spirit of the closely knit community of Ballymun.
"Dublin City Council who are now the major stakeholder has at last begun the process of demolishing the 50 year old shopping centre and we are now in a position, if it is handled correctly, to revitalise the centre of Ballymun and make it once more the heartbeat of the community."
He continued: "The new development could once again become a central hub linking the communities of Ballymun.
"Dublin City Council should deliver on the promises and aspirations of the Regeneration Project and central to that is making this site once more the centre of a vibrant and growing community."
