Major investment to aid the vulnerable

OVER 100 new housing units are being made available through an

?¬8 million investment to help the most vulnerable people in Dun Laoghaire Rathdown.

The money will be invested in the area over the next two and a half years to provide new social housing units, particularly for people with special housing needs, including the elderly and the homeless.

Both voluntary groups and the local authority will be involved in supplying the units.

Tánaiste and Labour TD for Dun Laoghaire, Eamon Gilmore, welcomed the announcement by Housing and Planning Minister Jan O’Sullivan.

“Labour has pledged to protect the most vulnerable in our community and this funding announcement is testament to our commitment to achieve that goal in the housing area,

? he said.

“The substantial funds involved will provide long-term, stable homes for elderly, homeless persons and people with special needs.

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He added:

“Local voluntary groups will be involved in acquiring and building many of the units and I would like to pay tribute to their work in this area. The provision of units for people with a special housing need nationwide is an issue I have worked with Minister O’Sullivan on during recent months. There is still much work to be done to ensure that these units come online, but I know there is a real will to get cracking on these projects now.

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St John of God Trust, Loughlinstown will be provided with six new units for people with disabilities; Tuath Housing, Dundrum will get two units for elderly people; Honeypark will see 80 social units managed by Tuath; while Rochestown House will get 13 units for the elderly, and people with a disability.

Deputy Mitchell O’Connor (FG) said the new housing units would help the most vulnerable in Dun Laoghaire Rathdown to live more independently.

“That the green light has been given for these proposals from local authorities, in spite of our economic situation is fantastic,

? she stated.

“It is crucial that we continue to meet the needs of the most disadvantaged in society and that those who are capable of living independently are assisted in doing so.

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Meanwhile, Fine Gael’s Dublin South Central TD, Catherine Byrne, has welcomed the announcement by Minister O’Sullivan, that the unfinished social housing development of 16 apartments and three houses in Bluebell will be completed by 2014.

“I am delighted to learn that this unfinished development has been listed for priority construction, and is to be completed by 2014,

? she said.

“This housing development on Bluebell Road was initiated by Dublin City Council back in 2005, in tandem with the new community centre which opened last April. Unfortunately, building work on the new houses and apartments came to a halt so this announcement is very welcome news for the local community.

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She added:

“It comes as part of a wider plan for social housing provision across the country. Nationally, more than 800 new social and voluntary housing units are being provided to cater for people with special housing needs including the elderly, homeless people and people with a disability.

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