Construction is progressing on the Donore Project, a significant new housing development located on the former St Teresa's Gardens site in Dublin's South Inner City.

The development, led by the Land Development Agency (LDA) and Dublin City Council (DCC), is being constructed by John Paul Construction, with enabling works having commenced in Autumn 2024 and the main contract executed in February 2025. The first homes are expected to be completed in early 2027.

Spanning 1.74 hectares (4.3 acres), the site will deliver 542 new homes, comprising 389 cost-rental and 153 social housing apartments. The project includes 233 one-bedroom, 265 two-bedroom, and 44 three-bedroom units. It is located adjacent to Dublin City Council's existing development of 54 social homes on Margaret Kennedy Road.

The Donore Project will also feature a range of community and public amenities including a new crèche, community spaces, a café/retail unit, a mobility hub, and a new home for the Donore Boxing Club. A multipurpose municipal sports pitch will be constructed following the completion of the residential units.

The project is part of a comprehensive and ongoing plan to create a sustainable and integrated new community in the area. In tandem with semi-private open spaces for residents, it will deliver public open spaces and recreational facilities designed to complement and connect neighbouring developments.

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The Donore Project Park will sit at the heart of the development, opening new routes between Donore Avenue, South Circular Road and Cork Street. The public realm is designed to encourage active lifestyles, to support resident wellbeing and provide urban greening.

James Browne TD, Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, joined John Coleman, Chief Executive of the LDA, and Richard Shakespeare, Chief Executive of DCC, at the official launch of the construction works on site.

Minister Browne said: "I am very happy to be here to mark the official launch of Donore Project and I'm particularly pleased that this excellent development will deliver 542 new affordable and social homes in such a central city centre location. It is great to see this part of Dublin benefitting from such a transformative project.

"The LDA is the State’s affordable housing delivery body and the Government, through Housing for All, has ensured it has the necessary resources to fulfil its remit and to deliver at scale, as it is doing here. I would like to congratulate the LDA and Dublin City Council for partnering on this project and I look forward to returning soon for the official opening."

John Coleman, Chief Executive of the Land Development Agency, added: "This is a major development for the LDA, and I'm pleased to see construction is underway and progressing quickly. Donore Project is a flagship development for us as it demonstrates our ability to deliver housing on State-owned land and our ambition to create not just new homes, but new liveable, sustainable and integrated communities that can cater for the needs of families, older people and renters and can make a real difference to the lives of people living and working in Dublin 8.

"The LDA is working with Dublin City Council on a number of housing projects of scale, and I would like to thank everyone at the local authority for their ongoing support and collaboration. I would also like to thank the Minister and the Government for providing the funding required to design, plan and ultimately build housing developments of this scale."