Housing minister visits Cork

The housing minister was in Cork recently to see six newly built social housing projects across the county.

These developments consist of three public private partnership (PPP) schemes, two turnkey developments and one own build development.

The Mayor of the County of Cork Cllr Gillian Coughlan welcomed the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage Darragh O’Brien to visit six newly constructed developments in Skibbereen, Clonakilty and Macroom.

Mayor Coughlan highlighted how in meeting the challenges of housing supply, Cork County Council has been, she said, to the forefront, and has provided homes through a variety of delivery streams. “We will continue to work with all stakeholders to deliver sustainable housing solutions that will meet the needs of the county. I am delighted to see that the hard work and collaboration of all is reflected in these excellent schemes that we have visited,” she said.

The own build development is at Beechgrove, Clonakilty and provides for 57 while the PPP schemes are at Páirc Goodman, Skibbereen with 50 units, Páirc Uí Thiar, Clonakilty with 52 units and Páirc Uí Mhuirithe, Macroom with 50 units.

The schemes involve a mix of two, three and four-bedroom A rated energy efficient houses. Construction works commenced in November 2019, with a phased completion of the schemes between Q2 and Q4 2021.

The turn key developments in Macroom and the own build development in Clonakilty are funded by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage through the Social Housing Investment Programme.

The developments in Macroom are located at two separate sites at Árd an tSuláin with 12 units and An Goirtín Rua with 14 units.

Minister O’Brien said: “This year 9,000 new social homes will be built across the country – delivery on a level not seen for many years. The targets in Housing for All are significant, ambitious and necessary, and the work local authorities do on the ground will be key to us achieving those targets. Today I’m seeing how Cork County Council is rising to that challenge – leading the way in providing high-quality, new social homes for people and families on their waiting list. Because ultimately Housing for All is not about targets or units of delivery, it’s about transforming lives – and the homes I’ve seen today will do exactly that.”