Family hub plans lodged by Son of Divine Providence

A PLANNING application to retain the use of a family hub at Sarsfield House in Ballyfermot was lodged last month with Dublin City Council.

Sons of Divine Providence are seeking to change the use of part of an existing two-storey, courtyard building (total floor area 832 sqm) from a probation hostel use to a family hub (558.32 sqm) providing short term emergency accommodation to homeless families.

The applicants are seeking a new internal layout to provide accommodation units (12 family units/36 bed spaces), new stairs and lift, kitchen, dining, recreation and laundry facilities.

According to the planning application, existing community use on the site including services to the elderly will remain unaffected.

Meanwhile, work continues behind the scenes with regard to a proposed social housing development containing 176 units at green space land at the Sons of Divine Providence (SDP) in Ballyfermot.

The social housing development is being conducted with Dublin City Council in partnership with the Sons of Divine Providence.

In 2022, the Dept Housing, Local Government and Heritage (DHLGH) approved €67m in funding for development at the 1.5 hectare site, which is bounded by Sarsfield Road, First Avenue, Sarsfield House and Long Meadows pitch and putt grounds in Ballyfermot.

Speaking at the April South Central area meeting, Alan Sherry, Senior Executive Officer, Dublin City Council assured members that work was progressing, updates are provided as often as they can be, and two different legal entities are “thrashing out a legal agreement.”

“It can take time unfortunately. We would all like to see it move along as quickly as possible, but as I said in my report it is currently with the Sons of Divine Providence and I want to assure members that I am regularly onto the project manager to ensure that project is moving as quickly as possible,” said Mr Sherry.