A new group home for elderly people with disabilities has been built in Carlow.

The Tinteán Willow scheme was developed by Carlow Voluntary Housing Association working in partnership with Carlow County Council and the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government as part of the Rebuilding Ireland Programme.

The scheme is the first of its kind to be designed and built to Passivhaus standards, a voluntary standard for energy efficiency which helps reduce a building's ecological footprint. Built on a site with an existing special needs home, features include spacious living/dining room, kitchen, family rooms and two wet rooms, six special needs bedrooms (two ensuite) and carer accommodation on the second floor.

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Speaking at the opening ceremony on Monday, Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy said: "This Government recognises the serious challenge we face in terms of housing and a critical focus and priority has been firmly placed on responding to this challenge through the development and implementation of the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness.

"It is critical at this stage to ensure that all the structures already in place are aligned, co-ordinated and co-operating towards a shared vision. This includes the Department, the Housing Agency and the Housing Finance Agency working with local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies across the country.

"Local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies working in partnership is a model that the Department encourages, and this scheme here today highlights the real progress on the ground being achieved to address the challenges we face in the housing sector."

(LM)