After years of lying idle, Finglas social homes may soon be welcoming families

Vacant apartments in the Prospect Hill complex in Finglas which have been lying idle for many years may soon be used as homes after Dublin City Council confirmed that it has taken over ownership of the units.

The 54 apartments are part of a 468-unit, 10 block development which is located at the junction of the Finglas Road and Tolka Valley Road.

In 2004, McCabe Builders began construction on the scheme on council owned land and entered into an agreement with DCC to supply it with 150 affordable homes and 35 senior citizen’s apartments.

However, McCabe Builders went into receivership in 2012, leaving the complex unfinished.

Dublin City Council then sought to purchase the apartments in Blocks 2 and 2A, which were incomplete at the time, so they could be used for social housing.

In 2014, Monami Construction announced that it was undergoing repair and refurbishment works on the apartments in question and expected to be completed in April 2014.

During this time the council released a report saying it anticipated the works would be finished in May and Clúid, an approved housing body, was already beginning the process of assigning homes to families.

However, that was eight years ago and the apartments have been lying empty ever since.

In the intermittent years, the apartments were flagged for not complying with fire-safety standards which required further repair works and thus, delays.

The apartments were also in the control of the National Asset Management Agency (NAMA) for a couple of years before being finally transferred over to Dublin City Council earlier this year.

Responding to a question tabled by Independent councillor Noeleen Reilly, the council said a timeline for when the apartments could be moved into had not been agreed.

“The tender is underway for the works to be undertaken on Prospect Hill,” the council said.

“Subject to a successful outcome the City Council will agree a timeline with the contractor for completion and progress to allocation.”

Reilly also asked where an approved housing body, such as Clúid, will be used to manage the properties.

“It has not been decided at this point if they will be managed by a voluntary housing body,” the council said.

“However, there are good examples of this in place and it will be examined as an option.”

Speaking to Northside People, Reilly said this has been a “long running saga” and she was anxious to see people move into the homes.

“For years DCC wasn’t able to do anything with them. Now they are,” she says.

“Clúid were originally offered to manage the homes before the issues cropped so we’ll have to wait and see if a housing body will be offered them again.”

Reilly says she is hopeful the apartments will be full with people sooner rather than later.

“By the end of this year, fingers crossed,” she says.

“People were offered homes a number of years ago and they have been let down.

“I have been contacted by a number of people about a timeline or how they can apply for a home, but unfortunately I don’t have anything yet to tell them.”

“Hopefully it won’t be too long,” she says.