The gift of a home - new launches under Housing for All
One hundred and 60 social houses have been delivered by Westmeath County Council this year, the newest of which were officially opened by Junior Minister Peter Burke on the Tuesday before Christmas.
The 31 units at The Cedars in Lakepoint formed one of a number of new developments launched that day, including 31 new homes in Ennell Court, Mullingar; 24 houses in An Garran Gael, Kinnegad; and 10 in Quinlan Park, Athlone, representing accommodation for 96 local families.
Speaking in Lakepoint, Minister Peter Burke said he understood the urgency for housing in Westmeath: "There are so many families entering this Christmas in difficult circumstances, and it’s our job as a government to provide solutions, and that’s what we’re doing. "Westmeath County Council have 170 houses to be delivered through build in 2023, a big statement towards resolving much of the pressure points on our housing list," he said.
"It’s great to see houses like this that have NZEB (Nearly Zero Energy Building) accreditation, making them really sustainable, making sure that we meet our climate ambitions, but also meaning that the families who occupy them will have much lower electricity bills, making a huge difference to the quality of life for individuals and their children.
"We also have so many schools and services right beside us here and that is important in terms of our planning policy. I know the council have a difficult job in the allocations process because there are so many families on the list in Westmeath – we’ve increased the means test threshold for families from January by €10,000 to allow them to qualify them for social housing. Again, we’re trying to give as much support to families that so badly need it."
He acknowledged the work of the cathaoirleach of Westmeath County Council, Cllr Aengus O’Rourke, Deputy Robert Troy and Cllr Mick Dollard, who he said, "all play a part in trying to work with the members of the local authority to support as much social housing as we can over the coming months and years ahead".
Cllr O’Rourke, in his remarks, pointed out that the opening of the Cedars development, which allowed officials a walk-through of one of the new houses, "constituted the first Christmas party this home has seen".
"They are built to a high standard, energy efficiency is the name of the game, you can feel it in these houses, and it will be a hugely precious allocation to whoever the families will be down the line.
"We know there are many people on the list, I know as a public representative we’re fighting that battle every day of the week, trying to help where we can, and I know the housing team of Westmeath County Council are in the same boat.
"As a local authority, we’re doing our very best, and people should be encouraged by the fact that we have in Westmeath a healthy pipeline of social houses coming through. But credit to everyone who perseveres day in, day out to make developments like this happen," Cllr O’Rourke said in acknowledgment of MKN Holdings, builders Mulleady Properties, who delivered the project.
Developer, Martin Mulleady, said it had been a tough year in the building sector, due to the increase in costs, but he thanked the council for their assistance in delivering the homes in a timely fashion. He also thanked his own team in Mulleady Properties, based in Longford, who "did the work on the ground". Mr Mulleady added that he hoped that the people who move into the houses, "mind them".
"We know what can happen, I’ve seen it in my own county, if they don’t mind them, they go into wrack and ruin very quick. Hopefully they respect them and mind them," he said.