2,500 new social homes planned

IRELAND’S largest housing organisation, Respond, has announced plans to construct at least 2,500 social homes over the next five years.

Construction will cost €500million, it announced at its 2017 annual review yesterday.

Respond’s CEO, Declan Dunne, called on people to accept social housing in their areas: ‘I would ask communities across Ireland to embrace new social housing or homeless services when they are announced for their area.

‘It is up to each single one of us, each community and parish, to play our part in building the homes and communities we want for all our children.’

He added: ‘Communities should know that they have nothing to fear and everything to gain when they welcome new residents to their area.’

Respond was founded by the Franciscan Order in Waterford in 1982 to provide housing for older people and young families, and has grown across the country. According to the group, 414 new social homes are currently being constructed, 250 of which will near completion this year.

These homes are being built on sites across Galway, Kilkenny, Donegal, Cork, Monaghan, Kildare and Dublin.

Future developments in Dublin will also include the construction of 155 homes in Dublin 18, while planning has also been lodged for a further 101 units in Drumcondra.

The group currently has more than 8,000 tenants in permanent housing across the country, and are offering supported accommodation to 128 families in hubs across Dublin.

Speaking at the launch, Minister for Housing Eoghan Murphy said the Government relied on approved housing bodies to deliver social housing.

‘We rely on the sector because we trust and have faith in them,’ the Minister said. ‘Respond has risen to the challenge and it is clear, they have the ambition to continue to play a role in Rebuilding Ireland.’