A new 42-home development has been opened in Stormanstown, Dublin.

The Oaklee Housing Trust builds comprise 31 one, two and three-bedroom apartments and 11 townhouses in the Collins Avenue Extension and Ballymun Road areas.

The development, located opposite adjacent to Dublin City University (DCU), was officially opened by An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, TD, and Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government, Damien English, TD, yesterday, 05 November.

Speaking at the official opening, the Taoiseach said: "The Government is providing thousands of new homes across the country this year. This new development at Stormanstown will benefit 150 individuals and families who had been on the social housing list. For each of them, getting the keys to their new home is a huge day. I wish them all the very best in their new homes and am delighted they'll be in before Christmas. By working through Local Authorities and housing trusts like Oaklee, we are replicating this kind of development nationwide to provide more and more families with a safe and secure roof over their heads. Some claim these homes don't exist or don't count because they are not local authority direct builds. The people moving in to them know better. Our housing shortage is a huge challenge but it's increasingly evident that significant progress is being made. This year almost 20,000 new homes will be built across the country, more than any other year this decease and next year we expect this to rise to 25,000."

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The €11 million development is part funded through a combination of funds from the Capital Advance Leasing Facility (30%) and private finance from the Housing Finance Agency (70%). The new development also received positive support from Dublin City Council and the Department of Housing.

Sharon Cosgrove, Chief Executive of Oaklee Housing, added: "This partially completed development lay derelict for almost a decade and was an eyesore for local neighbours. Given the requirement for social housing in the area Oaklee Housing were delighted to acquire the completed units within a top quality scheme, which will provide much needed social housing for families in need. It is great to see the development finally handed over to many new families who will make it their home, just in time for Christmas. We were also pleased to welcome the Taoiseach and Minister English to Stormanstown to see the development first-hand. We are grateful for the support from Dublin City Council, the Housing Finance Agency and the Department of Housing. It is vital that we get more homes underway and this project is one of many new developments we are embarking on this year across Ireland to help meet considerable need."

(CM)