Minister O’Brien joins Clúid Housing to launch Portmarnock housing scheme

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien TD today joined representatives from Clúid Housing and Fingal County Council to mark the completion of new social housing in the county.

3000 New Homes
The 25 homes in Dún Sí, Portmarnock are part of Clúid’s commitment to deliver 3000 new homes across the country before the end of 2022. Over the past 12 months, Clúid has delivered 93 homes to families and single people on Fingal County Council’s housing list with plans to deliver over 70 more before the end of the year.

Commenting on today’s announcement, Minister O’Brien said: “I’m delighted to see people receiving the keys to their new homes here today. This is an excellent example of what can be achieved through partnerships between AHBs like Clúid, my own Department and Local Authorities like Fingal County Council. I’d like to take this opportunity to welcome the new residents to the local community and to congratulate them on their new home.”

Record Social Housing Delivery
Clúid, Ireland’s largest approved housing body (AHB), recently launched its Annual Report 2019. The organisation now owns or manages over 7,500 homes across the country, providing secure, high-quality housing and services to some 20,000 people. Clúid residents live in diverse communities across 26 counties.

Clúid’s New Business Director, Fiona Cormican commented: “Clúid handed over the keys to a record 803 new homes in 2019. Our mission is to deliver quality housing and services that enable people to create homes and thriving communities. As part of our ambitious housing delivery targets, we’ve worked in partnership with Ireland’s leading property developers to fulfil their Part V obligations for a number of years now. The homes here in Dún Sí are an excellent example of high quality Part V housing being delivered in partnership with The Department of Housing, Fingal County Council and the developer, Quintain.”

COVID-19
On continuing to deliver homes during the recent COVID-19 restrictions, Cormican added: “Clúid is a resilient organisation that continues to innovate despite the impact of the recent Covid 19 restrictions. We have a robust financial model that ensures our sustainability. Its full steam ahead for us now with all of our construction sites back up and running and projects coming to completion across the country. Clúid is firmly focused on achieving our ambitious housing delivery targets for 2020.”

Clúid believes that having your own front door – your own place to call home – leads to further prospects in life, opportunities such as seeking out employment, accessing education and other services that enable people to contribute to and enrich our communities. Clúid is committed to tackling social housing stigma and believes that social housing should be indistinguishable from other forms of housing.

Mayor of Fingal, Councillor David Healy attended today’s event and added: “Fingal County Council has partnered with Clúid Housing on many projects across the county and I am delighted that we are doing so again and really welcome the delivery of 25 homes for families on our housing list.  Dun Sí is an excellent development and will benefit from the wide range of facilities already in place in the Portmarnock area.”

New Builds
New Business Director with Clúid, Fiona Cormican added: “AHBs supplied over 40% of all new social housing in 2019, that’s over 4,000 homes across the country. 82% of the new Clúid homes brought into management in 2019 were newly constructed properties. The new Government’s commitments on affordable rental housing, a national differential rents scheme, the provision of age-friendly housing, the reclassification of AHBs and building defects are all very welcome developments for the sector. We are ready and willing to work with the Government and the various Local Authorities to deliver on the housing objectives outlined in the Programme for Government.”

ENDS

For further information contact:

Phone: 087 113 5411

Clúid has launched a microsite to accompany the launch of its Annual Report 2019. The report can be viewed online here: https://www.cluid.ie/report-home/

Key Annual Report Facts
2,100 people in housing need received the keys to their new home in 2019

• 82% of homes were new construction
• 7,583 homes now owned and managed
• Supporting almost 20,000 residents
• Tangible fixed assets of €1,032m
• Delivery target of 3,000 new homes before the end of 2022.

About Clúid Housing
Clúid Housing is an independent, not-for-profit charity, and is the largest approved housing body (AHB) or housing association in Ireland. Established in 1994, Clúid leads the way in providing high quality, affordable rented homes to people in housing need. We work in partnership with local authorities to provide housing to those on social housing waiting lists.

Our team of over 230 highly qualified professional staff are committed to providing quality housing and services that enable people to create homes and thriving communities. www.cluid.ie