New Social Housing Scheme Opened in Monaghan Town

The delivery of 51 new social housing units at Slí Lorcáin, Monaghan Town, was hailed as another housing success story for Monaghan Co Council on Monday, October 12, as Minister of State for Local Government and Planning John Cummins praised the local authority for "punching above your weight" in housing provision and pledged continued Government support for future developments.

The development was officially opened during a visit by Minister Cummins, who was joined by local representatives and council officials.

Welcoming the minister to the county, Deputy David Maxwell thanked him for his engagement on housing delivery.

"This is your third visit to County Monaghan since you became Minister," said Deputy Maxwell. "No matter what you go to you with, you're amenable and you are pushing on to, very importantly, get our housing list numbers down."

Cathaoirleach of Monaghan County Council Aidan Campbell praised the council's housing team, led by Director of Housing Olga McConnon, for driving housing delivery across the county.

"We're doing very well in housing. We have a great team here, led by Olga. We're right at the head of the pack and we still have to keep doing more," he said.

Cllr Campbell described the completion of the homes as "a really good day" for the families who will benefit from them and thanked the minister for his support.

He added: "We're always looking for more funding and support, but thanks very much for coming to Monaghan today."

Deputy Maxwell reflected on the long legal and planning battle that preceded the development, describing Slí Lorcáin as a site that had caused difficulties for more than a decade following the property crash.

"This was a very troublesome site," he said. "We ended up in court in Belfast trying to get control of the site."

Recalling the transformation of the area, he noted that only a short time ago the site remained unfinished and dormant: "Look at where we are today," he said.

Deputy Maxwell praised contractor GEDA Construction and CraftStudio Architects for helping bring the long-awaited project to completion.

"One thing about GEDA, when they get a job, you know they will finish it and finish it well. They won't walk out of the gap and leave a load of works to be done. It's done professionally and it's finished."

He also commended Monaghan County Council's housing team and elected members for continuing to deliver homes across the county.

"If we get the money here, no matter what town it's in, we will spend the money and we will deliver the houses," he said, adding that council staff continue to "deliver, deliver, deliver" and regularly "punch above their weight".

Addressing those gathered, Minister Cummins said the scheme was ultimately about the people who will live in the homes for years to come.

"Fifty-one units here are being delivered in the community in Monaghan for the people and that's the most important thing here."

Thanking Monaghan County Council, GEDA Construction and CraftStudio Architects, the minister praised the county's performance across a range of housing initiatives.

"Whether it's vacant property refurbishment grants, whether it's your own cost-rental scheme, whether it's delivering under the First Home Scheme or social homes like this, you are doing excellent work and you are punching above your weight."

He said Monaghan was demonstrating what can be achieved when ambition, political support and administrative drive work together.

"You are showing what a smaller county council can deliver when the ambition and the drive is there from the top. That's what we want every local authority to have, that shared ambition to go and deliver."

Minister Cummins also highlighted the diversity of housing provided within the development.

"We have the bungalows, we have the larger five-bed homes, people with disabilities, specific needs, older people looking to right-size within the community. A whole range of people are going to be catered for here."

Chief Executive Robert Burns said the council's housing programme continues to expand and is on course to exceed targets this year.

"We have a strong pipeline. We'll exceed our targets this year," he said.

Mr Burns outlined progress across a range of housing initiatives, including affordable housing, cost-rental developments and vacancy and dereliction schemes.

"We're also looking at houses across the county, so not just our main towns. We can go to our smaller towns and our rural villages."

He added that the local authority would continue to maximise every available funding opportunity.

"Whatever funding is there, we'll continue to embrace it. We're grateful for what we have and we'll keep pushing on."

Sinn Féin TD Cathy Bennett thanked council staff, GEDA Construction and the Department of Housing for supporting housing delivery in Monaghan, insisting that Government investment was being put to good use locally.

"If you give us the money here, we will spend the money very, very well," she said. "Everybody wants a home and a home for life, and Monaghan County Council is doing their very best to ensure that happens for people."

Deputy Bennett used the occasion to call for an increase in social housing income thresholds, arguing that many working people are falling through the cracks.

"A lot of people are stuck in the middle. They can't get a mortgage and they can't get a council house. It is a big issue I see coming into my office all the time."

Responding, Minister Cummins confirmed that the thresholds are under review and pointed to the scale of Government investment in housing and infrastructure.

"The State is absolutely stepping in," he said. "There's about one euro in every three that's going to be spent over the next five years on housing or infrastructure to facilitate housing."

He added that continued partnership between local authorities, Government and the private sector would be essential to meeting housing demand: "We'll continue. It's a team effort."