SOD TURNED ON 20 RATHDRUM HOMES
THERE was good news for those on the Social Housing List on Monday, as the Minister for Housing turned the sod on a 20-unit housing scheme Rathdrum which should be ready this time next year.
Over the next two years, Wicklow County Council plans to provide 185 new housing units thanks to the provision of €43.4 million for the development of 14 different housing schemes.
Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government Eoghan Murphy officially turned the sod at Avondale Heights on Monday, assisted by the cathaoirleach of Wicklow County Council, Cllr Edward Timmins, and the new Council Chief Executive, Frank Curran.
The main contractors for the 20-unit scheme are QMac and the development should be completed by September 2018.
Speaking on Monday, Minister Murphy said: ‘ Today heralds the visible start of a vigorous programme of development by Wicklow County Council which will provide accommodation for over 185 households on the council’s social housing list over the next two years.
‘The council currently has 14 construction schemes at various stages of planning and funding of over €43.4m has been sanctioned by the department for these schemes.
‘ This is in addition to two projects which will provide for persons with special needs and the acquisition of a property in Greystones which will meet the needs of a further 30 housing applicants, for which funding of €3.84m is available.
Cathaoirleach Edward Timmins thanked the Minister and his Department for their support.
‘Without this help we wouldn’t be investing the money that we are currently investing in the Wicklow community,’ he said.
‘ This development of 20 houses is part of over 185 new housing units that Wicklow County Council have in the pipeline, at various stages of approval. We are looking to bring these developments forward as quickly as possible with the assistance of the department.’
In one of his first official functions as Wicklow’s new Chief Executive, Frank Curran welcomed the start of the new development and thanked Director of Housing and Corporate Estate Joe Lane and each member of his project team for progressing the council’s development programme.
‘Other streams of delivering new units to address the Housing crisis are well advanced, through Part V units on new developments and units being delivered in partnership with Approved Housing Bodies,’ said Mr Curran.
Also in attendance were Minister for Health, Mr Simon Harris TD; Minister of State, Mr Andrew Doyle TD and Deputy John Brady.
Meanwhile plans are also afoot for the construction of a private development consisting of 36 houses at Woodpark, Rathdrum, to be carried out by Redmond Construction.