Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government, Simon Coveney TD, has visited a turnkey housing scheme in Castletreasure, Douglas, Co Cork. Mr Coveney was joined by Councillor Derry Canty, Deputising for the Mayor of the Cork.

The visit marked the handover of 16 dwellings which form Phase 2 of the development. The scheme is the first to be delivered since Cork County Council embarked, in 2015, on a Turnkey Project to deliver new social housing in conjunction with the private sector, at various locations across the region.

The development is located on an unfinished housing site within Green Valley Estate and is being constructed in three phases at a total cost of €9.3m. It is part of the Council's delivery programme under Rebuilding Ireland, the Government's Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness and is funded by the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government.

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Phase 1 consists of the refurbishment and occupation of 12 existing and unfinished properties; Phase 2 is the completion of construction on a second phase of 16 new build housing units, and Phase 3 is the Construction of a final phase of 12 units.

This scheme has been designed and constructed by Castlerock Homes and consists of 40 social units sited within a large private housing development.

Minister Coveney said: "Turnkeys are not the only activity in the county and I am pleased to note that there are 10 construction projects which have been sanctioned by my Department along with 10 Capital Assistance schemes.

"Local authorities such as Cork County are central to achieving the targets set out in Rebuilding Ireland and reminded them to do all within their power to ensure that all suitable potential sources of housing supply are activated as quickly as possible."

Councillor Canty added: "Initiatives such as this scheme allow Cork County Council to provide social housing in an inclusive and innovative manner by engaging the private sector to deliver social housing while operating in tandem with traditional social housing construction processes to maximise output. Turnkey housing of this nature engages the market, stimulates the local economy and creates local construction activity and jobs."

(JP/MH)