Group honours housing projects

NEW social housing projects are setting a challenge for the private sector, it was claimed yesterday.

Fred Stephens, president of the Irish Council for Social Housing (ICSH), said: “Those of us in the social housing sector could argue that a lot of new social housing is built to a higher standard than housing built in the private sector.”

He was speaking to mark the publication of an ICSH booklet that features some of the country’s best social housing projects.

Two projects were selected as winners of the 2005 ICSH awards from over 40 entrants.

St Vincent de Paul in Gorey, Co Wexford, won for its St Joseph’s Court project. This development of 20 units for elderly people, families and the homeless includes a communal facility which is designed to be an integral part of the local Gorey community.

Cork County Council’s Convent Field, Clonakilty, won for its housing project of 33 units of mixed family and single person households. All homes are wheelchair accessible and the local authority incorporated a high level localised housing management service for the tenants.

Mr Stephens said the quality of the entries indicated social housing “should not be viewed as a third-class housing tenure. In addition, social housing is not just simply about bricks and mortar.”

The provision of social housing comprised a wide range of housing services for families and vulnerable groups such as the homeless, disabled and elderly, he said.

“In future, it is likely that social housing and private housing will be more closely integrated and this will present new challenges for all those involved in the planning, development and management of new housing developments,” he added.

“However, all of us in the sector should continue to publicise the positive image of social housing and the role it plays in Irish life.”

* Information: www.icsh.ie