DUBLIN City Council recently announced proposals for the final phase of a refurbishment programme in Coolock.
A total of 14 houses and 64 apartments are to be built as part of a new social housing development on Bunratty Road.
Local councillor Larry O’Toole (SF) welcomed the news.
“These homes will go a little way to provision of homes for local people on the housing list,” he told Northside People
“All construction will be done off site (factory) and assembled on site. Foundations and services (electricity, drainage etc.) will be done while units are being manufactured off site.
“I did express disappointment that no provision was made for inclusion of a small number of senior citizen accommodation units.”
Cllr O’Toole said he has also raised a number of issues with the council relating to the ongoing work.
“These include car parking, disruption to the area during construction and building, as well as road cleaning during the work,” he said.
“I will be insisting that the council hold regular consultations with local residents before development commences and throughout the period in which the work will be ongoing.”
A spokesperson for Dublin City Council said: “We hope to have a contractor selected before the end of this year.”
Meanwhile, the local community received a major boost earlier this year when Minister for Health Simon Harris visited the area to officially open the new €20 million Coolock Primary Care Centre.
The new facility, one of 14 centres being delivered through a Public Private Partnership (PPP) mechanism, is located on Cromcastle Road on the existing health centre site.
The centre incorporates four GP practices and provides a broad range of health services to over 20,000 people in the local community and the wider Dublin 17 and Dublin 5 areas.
It includes Dental Services, Mental Health Services, Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy.
The HSE has also selected the new primary care centre to provide specialist Network Children’s service to the Dublin 17 and Dublin 5 areas.
The services provided include Early Intervention Team, Dental Services (five suites) and a hub for Primary Care Children’s Services for the area.
The Primary Care Centre also provide D-Doc service on a 24/7 basis to the wider areas of Dublin 17 and Dublin 5.
Speaking at the opening of the centre, Minister Harris said: “It is a pleasure to be in Coolock to officially open the Primary Care Centre. Primary Care is at the heart of what we do in the health service.
“Making the shift towards primary care in order to deliver better care close to home in communities across the country is paramount.
“It remains a key priority for the Government, is one of the key features of Sláintecare and will be supported by the unprecedented capital funding for the health service announced recently in the National Development Plan.
“This new facility will provide a wonderful, modern day service to the local community.”
Minister for Education and Skills, Richard Bruton, said the centre, with a core staff of 120 people, will provide excellent quality health care and treatments for people in their community.
“Integrated primary care is the best way to ensure people stay healthy and stay out of hospital,” he said.