Minister Ahern declares affordable housing schemes delivering outstanding value to first time purcha

13/05/2004

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Government is delivering on Affordable Housing

Mr. Noel Ahern T.D., Minister for Housing and Urban Renewal today (13th May) officially opened two new housing developments by Dublin City Council. These developments are an Affordable Housing Scheme project at Hazelcroft in Finglas South and a senior citizens project in Kildonan Court in Finglas West.

The development at Hazelcroft is one of a number of small infill housing developments by Dublin City Council in partnership with Tógáil Developments in Finglas South providing a total of 59 affordable homes. The homes are being constructed on small sites between existing houses in the Cloonlara, Hazelcroft Road areas and on Tolka Valley Road. They are being sold at prices ranging from €138,500 to €160,500.

The Minister also visited affordable housing schemes at Tolka Valley View and Scribblestown which are presently under construction. Sale prices are being set at around €160,000 for the 2 bedroom units and between €180,000 and €200,000 for the 3 bedroom units. "This is great news for first time buyers and represents fantastic value" the Minister said.

In opening the affordable development at Hazelcroft, the Minister paid tribute to the work of Dublin City Council in this and other affordable developments. "This is a very good example of local authorities operating decisively to address an urgent public need for housing".

The Minister commended the use of infill sites in existing estates for the provision of affordable housing. "It is heartening to see that Dublin City Council have examined such estates and have identified areas where infill housing could be developed. They did this in consultation with the local population, who are now seeing the benefit with their sons and daughters being given the chance to purchase housing locally", the Minister added.

Kildonan Court is a purpose built development consisting of 16 one bedroomed units costing in the region of €2.3 million located on a site at the junction of Kildonan Road and Kildonan Drive, Finglas. In opening the development the Minister said, "Given the prominent location of this development, I must commend the City Council on the design of the development which certainly enhances this corner site".

The development is located beside the Odenswood Day Care Centre and WFTA Hall. The Hall and Day Care Centre have the potential to provide a comprehensive range of health and social services including bowling, bingo, and light exercises for all the new residents here today", said the Minister.

The Minister noted that these dwellings have been primarily allocated to elderly people surrendering larger accommodation in the Finglas area to the City Council. The City Council operates a scheme whereby elderly home owners may offer their house for sale to the City Council at a discounted price based on age and are then provided with rented senior citizen accommodation. The Minister commented, "I fully support this scheme as it allows senior citizens to move to accommodation better suited to their needs, generally close to better services. It also provides the City Council with access to under occupied family type housing for renting to families on their waiting list".

The Minister also mentioned that he had made an allocation of €108 million to the City Council this year for their housing construction programme. This funding will allow the City Council to continue construction work on its large building programme of 430 houses and enable the building on or acquisition of a further 450 new units this year.