Louth County Council’s Chief Executive Joan Martin is confident that the local authority will meet its target for the provision of new social housing units this year.

Túath Housing Association is to acquire 112 houses out of the planned 1,100 home development for social housing, in collaboration with the Department of Housing, Louth County Council and developer, Canon Kirk Ltd.

With the first phase of 26 homes now handed over, the remaining 86 homes will be ready for occupation by early 2020. The development consists of 40 two-bed houses, 66 three-bed houses and six four-bed houses.

“Louth County Council is delighted this project has progressed to the point where, in conjunction with Túath, we’re now in a position to see these houses being allocated to applicants on the Louth Housing waiting list for a significant number of years,” Martin noted.

She explained that it was one of the initiatives which the council had undertaken to deliver homes, in partnership with Túath and other Approved Housing Bodies. Due to the acquisition and leasing programme together with actions on vacant homes, she remains confident that the council will meet the 2019 target to provide new homes.

The €27m cost of the 112 social homes is funded by a combination of Capital Advanced Leasing Facility (CALF) from the Department of Housing and competitive loan finance on a fixed term of 25 years from the Housing Finance Agency and European Investment Bank.

Túath Housing’s Chairman, Eamon Gavigan described the development as “an excellent example of collaboration in action and it is testament to government and stakeholder commitment to Rebuilding Ireland for the benefit of local communities”.

He added that Túath intends to play its part to deliver more social homes in the years ahead via partnerships with the private and public sectors. Michael Cannon, Director of the Cannon Kirk Group, said his company was delighted to be working in partnership with Túath Housing and Louth County Council. (Source: The Argus)