Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government Eoghan Murphy T.D.; Declan Dunne, CEO Respond and Minister of State for Local Government and Electoral Reform John Paul Phelan T.D. location at Golf Links Road, Kilkenny to visit a new residential development by Respond which includes 54 new homes. Respond’s National Development Programme with a commitment of delivering 2,500 new homes by 2023. Picture: Alison Miles / OSM PHOTO
On 15th of February 2019 the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government Eoghan Murphy TD and Minister of State for Local Government and Electoral Reform John Paul Phelan were on location at Golf Links Road, Kilkenny to visit a new residential development by Respond which includes 54 new homes; 33 three bed houses, 6 four bed houses and 15 two bed apartments. This project is in partnership with Kilkenny County Council, the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government and the Housing Finance Agency.
This marks the continued work by Respond in Kilkenny where Respond currently owns and manages 133 social housing homes. The Respond development programme for Kilkenny up to 2020 currently stands at 144 additional homes.
Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government Eoghan Murphy T.D. commenting on this development said:
‘’I’m delighted to visit this development to and to see the progress being made to building these houses for families who need them. We are working very closely with local authorities and voluntary housing associations like Respond, to deliver housing projects across the country. This development represents 54 new homes for 54 families who can create a community here and I hope they will be very happy. Our plan to dramatically increase supply is working with over 18,000 new homes built last year and 1 in 4 of those was a social home. A real improvement was made for thousands of families last year. But still there is a lot more work to do for those who are depending on us, not least those in emergency accommodation. I will continue to drive the delivery of new houses and housing solutions, working with the local authorities and housing bodies.”
Head of Advocacy & Communications Niamh Randall being interviewed by KCLR onsite at Kilkenny
Niamh Randall, Head of Advocacy and Communications said speaking about this development said:
“Kilkenny is important to Respond and our development programme as a national Housing Association which has built over 5,000 homes around Ireland. We reiterate our commitment to building homes throughout the country for families and individuals who are in housing need, with 679 new homes under construction nationally right now. We are looking forward to welcoming families into their new homes here on Golf Links Road over the next few months. This project is the result of ongoing co-operation and collaboration; we could like to thank all of our partners here which includes Kilkenny County Council, the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government and the Housing Finance Agency”.
“We know how important a secure home is to the quality of life of individuals and families and we see first-hand the devastating impact of homelessness in our work with families who are homeless. We are proactively responding to the housing and homelessness crisis by providing real on-the-ground solutions and we are working hard to identify ways to support people out of homelessness and into more permanent, secure housing. Our long term aim is to provide lifetime social and affordable homes to a far greater proportion of the population, bringing Ireland more into line with our European neighbours where people from all walks of life live in housing association developments side by side”.
At a project value of €11.96 million this development includes a unit mix of 54 homes with 33 three bed houses, 6 four bed houses and 15 two bed apartments to help address social housing need in this area. According to the latest available figures in the Social Housing Needs Assessment (2018) there are almost 1000 households on the social housing waiting list in Kilkenny.
The Development is located close to the heart of Kilkenny City, within walking distance of the major shopping centre, McDonagh Junction. The site is also situated within 1400m of the Kilkenny Outer Ring Road (N10) which has direct links onto the M9 Motorway. The development is funded through CALF, CAS and the Housing Finance Agency.
Respond continues to offer real on-the-ground solutions by building new homes and actively working with families who are homeless with 679 new construction starts this year so far, 5 family hubs and a commitment of 2,500 homes over the next 5 years.
Posted: February 2019