Contractor of social homes goes into financial difficulty
By Maurice Garvey
THE protracted saga of tenants hoping to move into the new Co-Operative Ireland social development of 72 homes in Cherry Orchard, took a new unwelcome twist last week with news of the financial difficulties of site contractor MDY.
Despite MDY’s financial difficulties, it is expected that 36 completed homes at Cherry Orchard Meadows will be handed over to tenants in the coming weeks, starting with eight tenants last Friday.
The development in Cherry Orchard
It is not confirmed how extensive MDY’s debts may be, or how many sub-contractors are involved but the Naas firm were involved in other projects, including senior citizen developments in Crumlin and Dolphin’s Barn.
Housing list tenants on Dublin City Council have been allocated places at the Cherry Orchard site.
Cllr Hazel de Nortuin said she had received calls from tenants wondering if their place was put back as a result of the contractor difficulties.
She said the houses were “fabulous” whilst on a recent tour of the site.
Cllr de Nortuin, along with Cllr’s Daithi Doolan and Vincent Jackson, are concerned at the level of security onsite, particularly with Halloween and darker evenings on the horizon.
“If CHI have no other option but to employ another builder, then we need to get them onsite,” said Cllr Doolan.
Cllr Jackson said residents first noticed something was wrong when sub-contractors were seen removing equipment and machinery from the site – amid fears they will not be paid what is owed to them.
He feels tender prices issued on projects like this are “too tight” but called for the sub-contractors on the site to be retained to finish their work “otherwise it will be put back further.”
A spokesperson for Co-operative Housing Ireland told The Echo they are “aware of the situation and continue to monitor it”.
A spokesperson for Dublin City Council told The Echo they are in constant dialogue with CHI.
“CHI have advised that 36 homes have been completed and handed over to them and it is anticipated that the first eight tenants will be handed their keys for their new homes on Friday (September 21). The remainder of the 36 homes will be occupied over the next three to four weeks.”
Tenants were initially due to move into the development last April and May, but this was held up due to a hold up in services provision.
