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Minister Finneran announces €157 million for 75 housing projects for people with specific categories of need

04/02/10


The Minister for Housing and Local Services, Mr. Michael Finneran TD, today (4 February, 2010) announced significant capital investment of over €157m for a range of housing projects which will provide some 924 units of accommodation for people with specific categories of need including older people, persons with an intellectual, mental or physical disability and homeless persons.
 
These projects are sited at over 70 locations around the country (details at Appendix 1). Approved housing bodies, in partnership with the local authorities, will now progress these projects .

Speaking at the sod-turning ceremony for a new project spearheaded by Roscara Housing Association for persons with an intellectual or mental disability at Ardsallaghmore, Roscommon, the Minister said “ approved housing bodies, like Roscara, play a key role in delivering housing and related supports for people with disabilities, working in partnership with the Housing Authority and mainstream services providers like the HSE. These housing associations provide practical and functional support to  people with specific categories of  housing need to live contentedly and independently in their community.

As well as providing accommodation, approved housing bodies provide a range of  services & supports to tenants ranging from social activities to communal meals, laundry and on-site security or warden type supports. I have many years experience of seeing, at firsthand, the commitment and value-for-money services these organisations provide. I am delighted therefore, against the backdrop of reduced financial resources, to be in a position to announce record levels of funding for new housing projects for the most vulnerable sectors of our society”.

The voluntary housing sector is a significant provider of social housing for persons with specific categories of need in Ireland with approximately 14,000 units delivered so far. Under the Capital Assistance Scheme, grants of up to 100% of the approved cost of projects are provided to approved housing bodies for the provision of new housing stock.

“The majority of the projects being advanced under this tranche of schemes are new build. I am, however, mindful of the good value now available in the housing market and I am asking the individual housing bodies and the local authorities to examine the potential to purchase existing housing stock in cases where it is fit-for-purpose and more cost-effective than new build,” continued the Minister.

Outside of the €157m investment announced today, I am ring-fencing a further portion of the capital funding available to me this year, to meet specific categories of housing need, including housing for older people and persons with a disability as well as for persons moving out of emergency or transitional homeless accommodation and who are capable of living independently in the community. I believe there is suitable, vacant properties out there, of an appropriate type and at the right locations, which can be used for this purpose. I intend to issue, through the local authorities, a  Call for Proposals to the approved housing bodies to bring forward proposals in this regard, with an emphasis on the acquisition of built properties, which can be sourced and tenanted in the current year. I am confident that this will go a long way in delivering on the Government commitment to ending homelessness”.

 Roscara Housing Association currently manages a portfolio of 50 units of accommodation for persons with an intellectual disability throughout County Roscommon. The new facilities, with 7 units each at Strokestown and Ardsallaghmore, will greatly enhance the housing options available to persons with intellectual disability in the county. The Minister concluded “these new units will provide low-level, on-site tenancy supports for residents, enabling them to live independent and fulfilling lives, close to their families and friends. This is an excellent example of the public and voluntary sectors working together in providing accommodation and related services that are people centred, needs based and have the community as their core”. 

Media queries:
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Tel: (01) 888 2638  (direct)
(01) 888 2000
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