Plans for a €15m senior citizen housing scheme in Inchicore
By Maurice Garvey
PLANS for a €15 million senior citizen housing scheme in Inchicore has been identified as a pilot model under the Rebuilding Ireland programme.
Proposals are in the first phase, and expected to bring 52 new homes to a former section of St Michael’s Estate.
The launch of the Rebuilding Ireland programme
Minister for Housing and Urban Development, Damien English made the announcement for the ‘Housing with Support’ scheme on May 4.
The pilot project, in conjunction with Dublin City Council, Circle Housing, and Alone, has a completion date of 2020.
Upon completion, units will have extra space, providing senior residents the option of allowing care staff and family members to stay over.
Funding of €14,934,528 was approved by the Department of Housing, along with a contribution of €450,000 from the HSE/Department of Health towards additional communal facilities for residents.
Minister English said: “The ‘Housing with Support’ model is intended to set a new standard for the future of housing provision for older people and to act as an exemplar for others to follow.
“These homes are being future proofed even before they are built, with extra space in all the homes to allow for care staff and/or family overstays, whichever is the more appropriate as time goes by.”
Minister of State Catherine Byrne, said she was delighted that “site 1B on the former St Michael’s Estate site has been chosen for the construction of 52 new homes for older people by 2020.”
“The ‘Housing with Support’ model brings together a range of services and supports for older people, promoting independence and reducing or deferring the need to move into long term residential care.”
Lord Mayor of Dublin, Mícheál MacDonncha welcomed the announcement and looked forward to the development of the “entire St Michael’s Estate with Dublin City Council as the lead developer of social and affordable housing”.
