Work continues on 350 social housing projects

CONSTRUCTION work is continuing on more than 350 social housing projects across the country, despite Covid restrictions halting around 60pc of construction work this year.

Figures compiled by the Housing Agency detail the number of social housing projects in each local authority area that have been deemed “essential” during Level 5 restrictions.

They include 62 across the four Dublin local authorities, 48 in Cork, 16 in Galway, 15 in Limerick and 12 in Waterford.

The construction sector was shut down under Level 5 on January 8, with exceptions for essential health projects, social housing, essential housing adaptations, repair and maintenance of critical infrastructure, education facilities, certain large projects in the export/FDI sector and essential works in private homes.

Figures provided to Social Democrats co-leader Catherine Murphy by Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien show 357 social housing projects are still under construction during Level 5.

However, Mr O’Brien’s department commented that it “is not responsible for oversight of construction activity being undertaken in other sectors”.

Other areas where social housing projects remain under construction include 10 in Carlow; four in Cavan; five in Clare; seven in Donegal; 12 in Kerry; 31 in Kildare; seven in Kilkenny; 13 in Laois; six in Leitrim; four in Longford; 18 in Louth; five in Mayo; 10 in Meath; 11 in Monaghan; two in Offaly; five in Roscommon; three in Sligo; three in Tipperary; 12 in Westmeath; 16 in Wexford; and 20 in Wicklow.

Mr O’Brien said on Friday that the Government was aiming to reopen construction from April 5, noting that for every week the sector is closed, 800 homes are not delivered.