Thousands of new homes to be built on the Southside

FRESH Government funding is expected to deliver almost 15,000 new homes to the Southside.

Some 5,000 houses will be built in the Dun Laoghaire area by 2021, with the potential for 14,800 houses to be built in total in the long term. 

Dun Laoghaire Fine Gael TD, and Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Mary Mitchell O’Connor, said the funding will help deliver a strong mix of private, rental and social housing at appropriate locations.

“In recent months, I have been at a number of significant jobs announcements in the constituency, most recently at Microsoft, where 600 additional jobs will be created,” Minister O’Connor said. “I am acutely aware of the importance of quality housing stock in attracting companies and workers to the area and this funding will help to significantly increase the number of homes being built.

“These homes are important,” she added. “We know there are housing and accommodation shortages in certain areas. Fine Gael is dedicated to improving the lives of families and children. Everyone has a right to a home and we are ensuring this is possible. We will continue this work throughout the 32nd Dáil” the Minister added.

Exchequer funding for major infrastructure developments totalling €40 million were announced alongside National Transportation Authority (NTA) funding for a brand-new DART station at Woodbrook/Shanganagh.

Four areas have been specifically identified for major investment in public infrastructure at Cherrywood, Woodbrook/Shanganagh, Kilternan/Glenamuck and Clay Farm.

The works being funded will include new road and bridge developments and upgrades, the relocation of major ESB lines and junction upgrades.

“This investment will help provide vital infrastructural developments in our county which will allow the local authority to deliver on its housing targets and promote the development of new communities,” Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government, Simon Coveney stated.

The Chief Executive of Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, Philomena Poole, said she was delighted with the announcement.

“This large investment in public infrastructure in our county is a clear vote of confidence in our County Development Plan 2016 – 2022 and the Cherrywood Planning Scheme,” she said.

“This demonstrates a belief in our county council’s ability to achieve its targets for housing delivery and also to facilitate the provision of infrastructure for future developments.”

Senator Neale Richmond (FG) also welcomed the announcement of €10.5 million in Government funding to Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council. 

“This funding is long overdue,” he said. “It will deliver a new road network in Kilternan that will open up significant new land for development and crucially alleviate already acute traffic problems.

“I have been a long-time supporter of this pragmatic approach to development of infrastructure as a senator and when I was councillor.”

Deputy Josepha Madigan said the investment in strategic infrastructure is designed to support the delivery of much-needed housing.

“Over 1,000 homes will be delivered in Kiltiernan/Glenamuck by 2021 with a potential long term delivery of 2,000 homes,” she said.

“A further €10.15 million will be invested to build a loop distributor road and bridge in Clay Farm, Leopardstown and €15.19 in Cherrywood for road upgrades and a bridge.

Deputy Maria Bailey said Dún Laoghaire Rathdown had great potential to provide much needed housing in a well-established area with great amenities and transport links.

“This is in line with good planning, where the infrastructure comes before the building of homes,” she said.

“This signals what can be achieved from a collaborative approach between the various local authorities, public bodies and housing providers.”