Delighted families move into new Drimnagh homes

Rachel Farrell

A TOTAL of 29 families are settling in to their new homes in Drimnagh as part of a local Rapid Build housing initiative. 

Some 92 people moved in after receiving the keys on December 19.

Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy was in attendance alongside Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh as the families were welcomed to Mourne Road.

The project is made up of 15 two-bedroom houses and 14 three-bedroom houses that are housing 52 children and 40 adults.

Housing association and homelessness charity Sophia worked alongside Dublin City Council to get the houses ready before Christmas.

Project Manager Ciara Noone admitted that at times it seemed unrealistic for the families to move in so quickly. 

“The building work started in October 2016 and was due to be completed by September 2017, however, there were some delays that were sorted just in time,” she said.

Families were allocated a house after a nomination from Sophia, who carried out assessments on all possible tenants to ensure suitability. 

Local Sinn Fein councillor Daithí Doolan explained that a number of people were chosen from emergency accommodation and the transfer list. 

“The criteria for this was that you had to be in emergency accommodation,” Cllr Doolan explained.

“You also had to have links with the local community, and those that were the longest in emergency accommodation were allocated the homes.

“To mix it up a little bit and not have all families from communal emergency accommodation, we also allocated a small number of homes to people who were long term on the transfer list to allow them to get on with their lives.”

Many residents and the local community have expressed positive feelings towards the new houses.

“I live in the community, these are my neighbours, and there’s always been a great feeling towards these people,” Cllr Doolan added.

“A silent majority want these homes built and these families housed.

“Of course, there is a minority who opposed them but I completely stand over my record in delivering public housing and will continue to deliver them.”

Project manager Ms Noone added that some of the neighbours on Curlew Road “have been very helpful and welcoming” to the tenants, offering resources and support.

The Sophia Drimnagh project is staffed by Ms Noone and another project worker, who set up in the Don Bosco Youth Centre in September to prepare for the new families.

“Both myself and my colleague will work directly with the families in settling them in,” Ms Noone added.

“We would be involved in introducing the families to the local schools and amenities depending on the needs of the family.”

For the upcoming year, Cllr Doolan said he would continue to encourage Minister Murphy and the Government to continue with similar projects.

“We have another 50 homes going in Cherry Orchard,” he reveaaled.

“The long-term solution is building homes like we did in Drimnagh. We want to see the smiles on their faces, as they realise, ‘this is our home forever’.”