ÓCualannCohousingalliance oninnovationawardsshortlist

BRAY-BASED Ó Cualann Cohousing Alliance is among 15 finalists in the Irish Times Innovation Awards 2018.

There are five categories in total and Ó Cualann is one of three finalists in the sustainability category. All five category winners will also be in with a chance to win the overall ‘Innovation of the Year Award’.

The prize for the overall winner is a communications package worth in excess of €150,000 as well as a scholarship for three courses at UCD Smurfit Graduate Business School.

The winners will be announced at a high-profile awards ceremony at the RDS in Dublin on November 20.

In an effort to tackle the housing crisis Ó Cualann has come up with an innovative model to create affordable housing in sustainable communities. Already the housing co-operative has built and sold 49 homes in Ballymun in Dublin, at prices starting from €140,000. Buyers had to satisfy income limits and other criteria and were also subject to a clawback if they sold.

Further developments are in train and the Ó Cualann scheme has been used as a model for a new national affordable housing programme.

Ó Cualann is up against two Dublin based firms. EirGrid is nominated for its pilot system for integrating renewable-energy suppliers with the grid while Parkpnp, which describes itself as the Airbnb of parking solutions is nominated for the online parking marketplace it offers users.

Each category winner will receive a communications package worth €10,000.