Construction work on two social housing projects in County Kilkenny is continuing.

The homes which are being developed by Oaklee Housing will provide 30 new homes, nine bungalows in Moneenroe and 21 apartments in Thomastown to be allocated to households on the Kilkenny County Council housing list.

Oaklee has secured funding for the schemes through a combination of finance from the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government's Capital Advance Leasing Facility (CALF) and Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS); and the Housing Finance Agency.

Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government with responsibility for Local Government and Electoral Reform, John Paul Phelan TD, visited the sites.

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He said: "The housing crisis is one of the key challenges facing the state and, in responding to that challenge, it is encouraging to witness part of the significant investment programme being provided under Rebuilding Ireland coming to fruition here in County Kilkenny. These 30 new homes are an example of the successful joint working between Kilkenny County Council and Oaklee at a local level, with Oaklee harnessing the financial supports available to it from my Department. If we are to realise the full ambition of Rebuilding Ireland, we must continue to develop the strong pipeline of social housing projects around the country, many of which use new and innovative ways of delivering social housing, and harness the capacity of the approved housing bodies to deliver high quality houses and supported, sustainable homes for tenants."

The nine new bungalows at Moneenroe, near Castlecomer, are due for completion in November 2017 and include a mix of two and three-bedroom units. Meanwhile at Logan Street, Thomastown, Oaklee acquired a scheme that was abandoned during the downturn and to provide 21 new homes comprising of a mix of one, two and three-bedrooms apartments.

(CD/LM)