County Mayor turns sod on new Ballingeary social housing development for the elderly
THE Mayor of County Cork County, Cllr Declan Hurley, this week officially turned the sod on a new social housing development for elderly people in Ballingeary.
The development at Cuan Barra, Kilmore is a joint project between the Coiste Tithe Uibh Laoire Teo and Droumleigh Construction Limited and was sanctioned by Cork County Council through funding of €623,545 under the governments Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS).
A non-profit organisation based in Ballingeary, Coiste Tithe Uibh Laoire Teo is the body behind a number of social and community developments in the Gaeltach over recent years. These include the Cuan Barra community centre, the Spraoi na Laoi childcare facility and playground, previous social housing projects and a rural transport service.
In 2014 the work of the body was recognised by Cork County Council when it was unveiled as the winner of the Community and Voluntary Group category at the annual Mayor’s Community Awards.
Mayor Hurley was joined by Agriculture Minister Michael Creed, Aindrias Moynihan TD, Cllr Gobnait Ni Mhuineachain, officials from the housing body and Cork County Council and representatives from Droumleigh Construction for sod turning ceremony.
Welcoming the development, which will consist of three long-term homes, Mayor Hurley held it up as an example of the successful partnerships that have been forged between the council community focussed groups across the county,
“These are relationships that recognise the needs of people and crucially provide responses to these needs,” he said.
“This development will allow older people to live in their own homes for as long as possible and to enjoy a high quality of life through established connections within their community,” he added.
It is anticipated that the houses will be completed before the end of this year, with the new tenants drawn from older people in need of social housing on the council’s housing list.