Plans to deliver 3,000 social homes by 2021 in county
By Mary Dennehy
THE sod was turned on a 63-unit social housing development in Clondalkin, as South Dublin County Council confirms that it ‘will deliver’ just under 3,000 social homes by 2021.
However, with more than 7,100 applicants on the housing list and 622 registered as homeless with South Dublin County Council as of October 2, is 2021 soon enough?
Last week the sod was turned on a €12.2m development consisting of 63, two-storey rapid build social houses on lands at St Cuthbert’s Park in Deansrath, Clondalkin.
Speaking after the sod turning, County Mayor Mark Ward said: “There is an established housing need in this area of Clondalkin, and this development starts to address these needs.
“This provision forms part of the council’s commitment to driving the building of social housing units in the county over the next few years and comes as local authorities across the country are highlighting the development and provision of housing through the #HousingFocus campaign.”
The development of the 63 units in St Cuthbert’s Park follows the completion of 17 social houses in Mayfield, Clondalkin, and 69 units in Sheehy Skeffington Meadows, Tallaght.
The council also expects to deliver 11 new social housing units in St Mark’s, Clondalkin, 24 in Killininny, Firhouse/Old Bawn, 28 in MacUilliam, Fortunestown and a further 16 in Sheehy Skeffington Meadows over the coming months.
A further 185 social housing units are expected to be handed over to South Dublin County Council by July 2019.
Housing delivery targets
South Dublin County Council, like local authorities across the country, has last week published its housing delivery targets as part of the Rebuilding Ireland programme.
According to stats for South Dublin County, the local authority will deliver 2,993 social homes between 2017 and 2021.
These homes will be delivered through construction (847), Approved Housing Bodies (625) Part V Zoning (328), joint venture development (268), reletting of units (407), acquisition of units (123), Older persons build schemes (110), leasing of units (176) and public-private partnership programmes (109).
In addition to this, the council is currently providing around 2,900 homes through the HAP (Housing Assistance Payment) Scheme and close to 1,100 homes through the RAS (Rental Accommodation) Scheme.
The €12.2m for the Cuthbert’s project is being funded by the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government as part of the Rebuilding Ireland Construction Programme.
For further details on South Dublin County Council’s housing targets visit www.sdcc.ie.
