New housing project marks fresh approach

THE first incidence of a new approach to providing social housing was revealed last week at a sod-turning ceremony in Glasnevin.

Cash-strapped local authorities are struggling to provide funding for social housing but the new Fold Ireland development for older people on Ballygall Road East was built using private finance.

During last week’s ceremony Fold outlined how it was able to access finance from Bank of Ireland after Dublin City Council transferred ownership of the housing project to the organisation.

The project, which provided homes for 76 older people, had been built by Dublin City Council in 1969, and managed by the council since then. Now, with the Bank of Ireland finance, Fold is undertaking a complete regeneration of the project, which will see it transformed to provide 39 modern units for elderly couples and individuals.

Speaking at the launch last week, Fold’s Development Manager Tina Donaghy, said:

“The economic downturn has made it extremely difficult for local authorities to meet the demand that exists for social housing.

“Currently there are a total of 242 applicants on the Older Persons Waiting List seeking accommodation in Area E which includes Cabra, Finglas, Glasnevin, Santry.

“As a result, housing associations such as Fold are working with local councils and the Department of the Environment to develop innovative solutions to meet social housing needs.

“This project represents a shift in how social housing will be funded in Ireland in the future and we are grateful that Dublin City Council had the confidence in us to transfer the site to Fold Ireland, which allowed us to subsequently secure private finance from Bank of Ireland.

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The project in Glasnevin will have fully accessible apartments with an adjoining community centre. It’s expected that the first two blocks with eight units in each will be available in June and the remaining blocks will be complete by December.

Patricia O’Brien (81) is one of ten residents living in the last remaining block on the site and is looking forward to moving into her new apartment in June.

“I’ve never gotten used to living in a bedsit with my bed in the sitting room despite having lived here for 14 years,

? she said.

“The new apartment will mean the world to me. I can’t wait to have a bedroom and home again. I’ve already put my deposit down on a proper double bed for the new apartment.

“Ballygall Road always had a strong community network and in a few months we’ll have great new apartments as well as a new community centre. All the residents are just like a happy family and I’m looking forward to having lots of people around again when the renovations are complete.

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Sinn Fein Housing spokesperson and local TD Dessie Ellis welcomed the new project adding that it was sorely needed for older people in the area.

“There has been a severe lack of new housing in Dublin particularly housing suited for older people,

? he said.

“This should have been possible under public ownership had Dublin City Council taken the initiative of founding a semi-independent housing trust which could borrow money in a similar way to housing bodies like Fold.

“Voluntary bodies do great work but the local authorities must step up to the plate and deal with the housing crisis now. This requires new thinking and a dedication to providing public housing. It is not easy to take new steps like this but it is absolutely necessary.

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Northside councillor, Mary Fitzpatrick (FF), said the new Fold project would make a real difference to its residents but called on the Government to formulate a meaningful plan to deal with the housing crisis in Dublin.

“With 20,000 on Dublin’s housing list, no matter how welcome this is, it is just one small piece in a very large puzzle,

? she said.

“And it would seem that the Government has no meaningful plan to tackle the rest of the problem.

“The Government must act now.

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