Irish Housing Minister Michael Finneran has opened a new multi-million euro project undertaken by Saint Michael's House voluntary housing group at Santry, Dublin 9.

The Department of Environment contributed €1.8m towards the nine units, designed for people with special needs.

Minister Finneran said: "Saint Michael's House, continue to work within the community playing a vital role in ensuring continued economic and social integration of people with special needs into main stream communities."

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The Minister acknowledged the difficulties being faced during the economic recession, but gave assurances that the most vulnerable in society will not be overlooked.

"My focus is to prioritise funding for all forms of social housing. Within the last two weeks I announced the approval of some €77m for new voluntary housing projects around the country," he said.

The Minister said his department is currently examining new methods of delivering social and affordable housing, including the opportunities that exist in the private housing market.

New arrangements for long term leasing under the Social Housing Investment Programme, which the Minister recently announced, have been allocated substantial funding for 2009.

Mr Finneran said these new arrangements will provide an additional delivery mechanism for the supply of social housing and will allow for a more efficient and effective use of public resources.

(PR/JM)