€2.2m housing development gets green light

An 11-unit council housing development at Castlebridge costing more than €2.2 million has been given the go-ahead by the Department of Housing.

The Capital Advance Leasing (CALF) scheme at Ballybogan, Castlebridge, is one of scores listed nationally in an update published by the Department of Housing on social housing construction schemes that are in the process of being rolled out. Minister Paul Kehoe said the Castlebridge scheme is just one of a number that Wexford County Council have submitted for approval from the Department which will see significant numbers of units being built throughout the county in the coming months and years.

He said the Castlebridge scheme had crossed an important line last week in having its funding approved.

Wexford councillors were told recently that all the targets set out in the authority’s three-year Programme are expected to be achieved, with almost 2,800 social housing units to be delivered in County Wexford between 2017 and 2019.

Minister Murphy said the Government has approved an extra €100 million for housing and homelessness for 2017. This brings to €1.4 billion the funding that is being provided in 2017 by the Government for housing and will support the delivery of new homes, family hubs and emergency accommodation for those that need them.

Of the €100 million, €92 million is being provided for the local authority capital programme and €8 million is being provided to deliver homes under the National Regeneration Programme.

The updated status list of social housing construction schemes shows that there are now almost 12,300 new social homes being advanced by local authorities and approved housing bodies across the country, including those that are on site, in planning and those completed since 2016.

Among the biggest County Wexford projects listed are 16 housing units at Barrystown, 18 in the first phase of Hunters Green, Gorey, 11 in the second phase, 40 in Enniscorthy for the Oaklee Housing Trust, although no area is listed, 18 at Cloghultagh, Taghmon, 14 at Carricklawn, Coolcotts, Wexford, 36 at Whiterock Hill, 14 at Killeens and 12 at Danescastle.