The delivery of social housing units across counties Cork, Clare, Galway, Kildare, Roscommon and Waterford has been boosted with a new major contract.

Torc Housing Partnership has landed the contract for the Social Housing Bundle 2 PPP project, which will see 465 social homes built across eight sites in Ireland.

Using a payment and availability Public Private Partnership agreement to construct social housing is a new innovation in Ireland, with the first such homes commencing construction under Bundle 1 earlier this year.

Under the latest contract, the construction works will be delivered by a joint venture between JJ Rhatigan & Co. and the Spanish firm Obrascon Huarte Lain S.A. Upon completion of construction on each site, facilities management services will be provided by Derwent FM and Tuath Housing Association for a 25-year service period. Tuath will also provide tenancy management services.

Construction on the 465 new homes will begin immediately and is expected to take between 14 and 18 months to complete.

Commenting on the news, Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy said: "Today's announcement represents an important milestone in the provision of social housing through the innovative Social Housing PPP programme, under which 534 social homes are already under construction.

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"Firstly, I am delighted to announce that the second bundle of sites under this programme has reached Financial Close, with contracts being signed with the Torc Housing Partnership, who successfully tendered for this project. This will see the delivery of 465 homes across eight locations in five local authorities. Not only will these units help contribute to our national targets for social housing delivery under Rebuilding Ireland, but each development will form an important part of their associated communities, and will provide long-term secure homes for people across the country.

"The structure of the PPP process ensures that construction of these units will commence immediately, with the first homes from this bundle being available for occupation by their new tenants from in early 2021.

"I would like to acknowledge the dedication and hard work of staff from the relevant local authorities, in particular Cork County Council in their role as lead local authority; the National Development Finance Agency who led the procurement process for this project, as well as officials from my Department. The contribution of the various members of the Torc Housing Partnership is also very important, and the delivery of these units is now entrusted to them.

"I look forward to watching the progress of this second bundle, and would like to wish our partners in the local authorities and the NDFA well in undertaking this process over the coming months."

Andrew O'Flanagan, Director of the NDFA, added: "This is the second social housing PPP to begin construction this year, delivering significant additional social housing capacity for six local authorities.

"The project is a strong example of effective collaboration between the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government, local authorities and the NDFA, using a model that will deliver homes for people who need them as quickly as possible and ensure the effective management and maintenance of these homes for many years to come."

(CM/JG)