merrion street

Minister for Housing and Planning, Ms. Jan O’Sullivan, today (21 May 2014) announced a capital investment totalling over €46m for a range of housing projects which will provide a total of 416 units of accommodation for people with special housing needs including the elderly, persons with an intellectual or physical disability and homeless persons. The selection of projects now being advanced is based on the priority afforded by the local authority following a ‘Call for Proposals’ to approved housing bodies.

Yesterday, the Government approved the Implementation Plan on the State's Response to Homelessness. Minister O’Sullivan said, "The Government is fully committed to addressing the crisis of homelessness and I am pleased to announce a programme of works that will form part of the response to dealing with this growing problem. Approved housing bodies play a key role in the delivery of housing and related supports for homeless persons and other vulnerable groups such as older people and people with disabilities”

Of the €46 million being announced today some €19 million has been ring-fenced for the delivery of 187 units to be acquired or constructed in the local authority areas across the country to specifically accommodate persons and families who are homeless. Details of the 15 construction projects and 9 acquisitions are set out in Appendix 1 attached.

As a result of a special initiative, €10m is also being provided for the acquisition of 66 units by approved housing bodies to address the homeless problem specifically presenting in the Dublin City area. Minister O’Sullivan said ‘This initiative will have an immediate effect in Dublin City which has the greatest number of people currently experiencing homelessness. The funding of over €10 million is being made available under CAS to approved housing bodies which have identified specific properties that will be acquired in a short timeframe” Details in relation to this special initiative is set out in Appendix 2 attached.

The balance of the €46million, around €16.7 million will fund the delivery of 163 units to accommodate persons with a disability and older persons in various locations around the country. “These 163 new permanent housing units are intended, in the main, to provide accommodation for people with special needs including older people and people with a disability. Special needs housing must be lifetime adaptable to cater for tenants at all stages of the lifecycle and, in some instances, must be customised to meet particular needs” the Minister said. “Accordingly, 15 of the 34 projects being advanced are new build with 19 projects acquiring existing housing stock in cases where it is fit-for-purpose and more cost-effective than new build.”

Details of these projects are set out in Appendix 3.

The Minister concluded “I am particularly pleased to be able to provide €46 million in capital funding at this time to meet this need and provide over 416 households with quality accommodation that is safe, secure and appropriate to their requirements Approved housing bodies, in partnership with the local authorities, will now progress these projects”

Appendix 1

CAS Accommodation for Homeless Persons (Nationwide)

Local Authority Name of AHB Proposed Project No of Units Category of Tenant Construction or Acquisition Estimated Cost €

Clare County Council Society of St. Vincent de Paul Laurel Lodge Clare Road, Ennis, Co. Clare 3 Homeless-Transition Construction 147,525

Cork City Council Good Shepherd Services Grattan Street, Cork 15 Mother and Child Refuge Construction 2,225,000

Cork Simon Community St. Joachim and Annes, Anglesea St., Cork 12 Homeless Construction 1,085,000

Dublin City Council Sophia Housing Association 62 Sean McDermott Street, Dublin 1 18 Homeless Construction 556,734

Peter McVerry Trust St. Agatha's Court, William Street North, Dublin 1 12 Homeless Construction 1,170,000

Cluid Housing Association Dunmanus, Cabra, Dublin 7 10 Homeless Construction 1,406,697

Fingal County Council North & East Housing Association Ringfort, Balrothery 6 Homeless/ Moderate Intellectual Disabilities Construction 1,120,700

Peter McVerry Trust Geraldstown Wood, Santry 10 Homeless Acquisition 1,019,700

Galway City Council Cope, Galway 45 Foster Street 9 Domestic Violence Refuge Homeless Construction 1,164,000

Kerry County Council Kerry Emigrant Support Group College Rd, Castleisland 4 Homeless Construction 488,254

Kildare County Council Dublin Simon Community Naas, Co. Kildare 8 Homeless Acquisition 577,075

Dublin Simon Community Newbridge, Co. Kildare. 20 Homeless Acquisition 1,421,860

Kilkenny County Council Camphill Communities of Ireland Thomastown Booke House, Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny 5 Homeless Construction 595,000

Cluid Housing Association Friary Walk, Callan, Co. Kilkenny 6 Homeless Construction 687,471

Limerick City Council Focus Housing Association Various Locations 6 Homeless Acquisitions 665,958

Limerick County Council Cuan Mhuire Housing Association Garrouse, Bruree, Co. Limerick 5 Homeless Construction 741,372

North Tipperary County Council Thurles Lions Trust Housing Limited Croke Street, Thurles, Co. Tipperary 3 Disabled /Homeless Construction 296,250.00

Sligo County Council Focus Housing Association Sligo Town 2 Homeless / Mental Health Disability Acquisition 119,784

South Dublin County Council Tuath Housing Association Collinstown Grove, Clondalkin, Dublin 22 4 Homeless /Disablity Construction 703,245

Dublin Simon Community Lucan , Co Dublin 8 Homeless Acquistion 843,500

South Tipperary County Council Simon Community South East Clonmel 6 Homeless Acquisition 221,025

Westmeath County Council Tuath Housing Association Springfield, Mullingar 6 Homeless Construction 723,728

Wicklow County Council Ark Housing Association Bray, Co. Wicklow 4 Homeless Acquisition 305,626

Dublin Simon Community Wicklow Town 5 Homeless Acquisition 622,206

187 18,907,710

Appendix 2

Special Initiative for Homeless in Dublin City

Priority Approved Housing Body Location No. of Units Estimated Cost €

1 Circle Voluntary Housing Association Ltd. Dublin City 8 1,505,000

2 Dublin Simon Community Dublin City 12 1,555,000

3 Cluid Housing Association Dublin City 22 3,400,000

4 Focus Housing Association Dublin City 6 1,430,000

5 A.L.O.N.E. Dublin City 9 765,000

6 Peter McVerry Trust Dublin City 2 196,000

7 Tuath Housing Association Dublin City 2 540,000

8 H.A.I.L. Dublin City 2 271,000

9 Dublin Simon Community Dublin City 3 650,000

66 10,312,000

Appendix 3

CAS Accommodation for Persons with a Disability / Older Persons

Local Authority Name of AHB Address of Proposed Project No of Units Category of Tenant Construction or Acquisition Estimated Cost €

Carlow County Council Tintean Carlow Voluntary Housing Association Ballincarrig Wexford Road, Carlow 7 Intellectual /Physical Disabilities Construction 807,600

Cavan County Council Tuath Housing Association Butlersbridge, Cavan 2 Elderly/Disabled Acquisition 96,310

Cork County Council Cluid Housing Association Freemount, Co. Cork. 1 Disabled Acquisition 172,150

Charleville Care Project Ltd Church View, Love Lane, Charleville 2 Elderly Construction 194,760

Bandon Geriatric and Community Council Avenue House, Bandon 8 Elderly Construction 744,000

Donegal County Council Co. Donegal Parents & Friends of the Mentally Handicapped Gweedore Road, Dungloe 12 Intellectual Disability Construction 1,100,000

DunLaoghaire /Rathdown County Council North and East Housing Association Various Locations in DunLaoghaire 3 Disabled Acquisition 823,650

Fingal County Council St. Vincent de Paul St. Benedict's Malahide 8 Elderly Construction 1,000,000

Galway County Council Cluid Housing Association/ St. Vincent De Paul Dunlo Ballinasloe 12 Elderly Construction 1,863,000

Kerry County Council Newgrove Housing Association Tralee 3 Intellectual Disabilities Acquisition 236,340

Camphill Community of Ireland An Daingean 6 Disability Acquisition 275,000

Kildare County Council KARE Craddockstown, Naas, Co. Kildare. 4 Intellectual Disabilities Construction 630,000

Kilkenny Cluid Housing Association Friary Walk, Callan, Co. Kilkenny 6 Elderly/Special Needs Construction 687,471

Laois County Council Muiriosa Foundation Stradbally, Co. Laois 1 Intellectual Disabilities Acquisition 90,420

Tuath Housing Association Portlaoise, Co. Laois 3 Physical/ Intellectual Disabilities Acquisition 216,780

Leitrim County Council North West Simon Community Carrick on Shannon, Ballinamore & Drumshanbo 6 Special Needs Acquisition 260,000

Longford County Council Society of St. Vincent de Paul Cartrun Breac Longford 6 Disability / Mental Health Acquisition 198,436

Louth County Council Oaklee Housing Association Tierney St, Ardee 7 Intellectual Disability Construction 750,000

Respond Housing Association No. 77 Tredagh View, Drogheda, 1 Disability Construction 147,318

Mayo County Council Society of St. Vincent de Paul Irishtown, Foxford, Co. Mayo 8 Elderly Construction 975,000

Meath County Council Tuath Housing Association Trim, Co. Meath 3 Elderly / Disabled Acquisition 448,099

Clanmil Ireland Trim, Co. Meath 4 Disability Acquisition 620,014

Monaghan County Council North & East Housing Association Carrickmacross, Co. Monaghan. 1 Intellectual Disability Acquisition 115,550

Tuath Housing Association Carrickmacross, Co. Monaghan. 1 Intellectual Disability Acquisition 82,260

North Tipperary County Council Thurles Lions Trust Housing Limited Croke Street, Thurles, Co. Tipperary 3 Disabled Construction 296,250

Offaly County Council Mid Offaly Housing Association Kilcormac, Co. Offaly 1 Elderly / Disabled Acquisition 130,000

Daughters of Charity Brosna, Co. Offaly 6 Disabled Acquisition 195,000

Sligo County Council Sophia Housing Association Sligo Town 4 Intellectual Disability Acquisition 300,000

South Dublin County Council North & East Housing Association Kiltipper, Dublin 24 5 Disability Acquisition 380,700

Waterford City Council Anvers Housing Association The Paddocks, Williamstown Rd, Waterford 6 Disability Construction 720,000

Waterford County Council Tramore Voluntary Housing Association Ballycarnane, Tramore, Co. Waterford 8 Elderly Construction 1,153,000

Westmeath County Council Tuath Housing Association Springfield, Mullingar 6 Elderly Construction 723,728

Wexford County Council Respond Housing Association Westlands, Wexford 7 Elderly Acquisition 125,000

Camphill Communities Ballymoney, Gorey 2 Disability Acquisition 160,000

163 16,717,836