Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage and Dublin Fingal TD Darragh O’Brien has welcomed the vote by the overwhelming majority of Fingal County Councillors paving the way for 1,200 social, affordable and private homes in Ballymastone, Donabate.
At a special four-hour meeting of Fingal County Council councillors voted by 31 votes to 9 to approve the construction of up to 1,200 social, affordable and private homes by Glenveagh Living Ltd – one of the biggest proposed housing developments in the country.
Minister O’Brien said it was disappointing that Sinn Fein, Social Democrat and some Independent members would try to block and delay such a development.
Commenting Minister O’Brien said, “I welcome the outcome of the vote, which will soon see work begin in earnest and homes being delivered as early as 2022. From the outset, the vision for this project included the provision of high quality homes, with a range of house sizes, types and tenure to meet a variety of household needs and to promote balanced communities with accessible community and recreation facilities.
“Boosting supply is key to resolving so many of our housing challenges, whether it’s helping those experiencing homelessness into a permanent home, reducing the numbers on our social housing waiting lists, or addressing our affordability crisis.
“I really want to commend Fingal County Council for their vision for this project and all of the members who voted in favour of the development. It beggars belief that some members would vote against such a development which will deliver 238 social homes and 238 affordable homes at prices between €250,000 and €270,000.
“Despite the challenges presented by the pandemic, Government have been focused on progressing major reforms that will accelerate and increase the supply of housing – public, affordable and private. We have been very clear that we must use all tools at our disposal to address this challenge across both the private and public sector and that failure to do so is fighting with one hand behind our back.
“I’d like to again thank Fingal County Council for progressing this project and thank members who voted in favour of this much needed development,” he concluded.

€25,000 for Turvey Nature Park
€12,000 to clear mature Rhododendron at the Ben of Howth
€4,000 for the removal of newly developing Seabuckthorn stands from the dunes in Portrane
 
Local Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, has welcomed the announcement of €41,000 for Fingal County Council under the National Biodiversity Local Authority Biodiversity Grant Scheme.
 
€25,000 has been allocated to develop three new ponds and fill in a drainage ditch in the Turvey Nature Park and the Rogerstown Estuary Special Area of Conservation (SAC) in Donabate. The aim of the project to allow the natural hydrology of the site to re-assert itself and it is envisaged that this will result in the development of new brackish and freshwater wetland features. €12,000 has been announced for the clearing of mature Rhododendron from 1.2ha of heathland at the Ben of Howth in the Howth Head SAC and €4,000 has been allocated for the removal of newly developing Seabuckthorn stands from the dunes in Portrane.
 
Commenting Minister O’Brien said, “This funding offers assistance to local authority biodiversity officers and heritage officers all across the country. I’m delighted that these excellent biodiversity projects in Fingal have received funding.
 
“First launched in 2018, the Scheme supports actions for biodiversity in local areas and is an important element of the overall National Biodiversity Action Plan implementation. Engagement with communities and local authorities is crucial to the implementation of the Plan and the grants help raise awareness of biodiversity issues locally, regionally and nationally,” he concluded.

-Rush South Beach awarded Green Coast Award for the first time-
-Portmarnock’s Velvet Strand retains Blue Flag status-
 
The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage and Dublin Fingal TD, Darragh O’Brien has congratulated the winners of the Blue Flag and Green Coast Awards.
Rush South Beach, has been awarded a Green Coast Award for the first time ever and Portmarnock’s Velvet Strand is retaining its Blue Flag status for the 2021 season.
The Blue Flag is an international award for beach excellence and is operated in Ireland by An Taisce with support from the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government. The Green Coast Award is given to sites which have excellent water quality but which may be less developed and less populated than Blue Flag beaches.
Commenting Minister O’Brien said, “I’d like to extend my sincere congratulations to the winners of this year’s Blue Flag and Green Coast Awards. This year a record setting 93 Blue Flags and 63 Green Coast Awards have been announced for 2021.
“Winning a Blue Flag or a Green Coast award is a collective effort with local authorities, An Taisce, local coastal communities and other volunteers on the ground all playing their part. My colleagues Councillor Brian Dennehy and Councillor Eoghan O’Brien have both been advocates for these beaches over the past number of years and we know that these awards are a fantastic vote of confidence for both the residents and visitors who enjoy these beaches.
“My Department and indeed the wider Government is committed to supporting programmes such as the Blue Flag and Green Coast Award and to building on them to achieve positive changes in environmental behaviour countrywide,” he concluded.

 
The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage and TD for Fingal Darragh O’Brien TD, has announced funding of over €2.3 million for Fingal County Council to refurbish and re-let 157 vacant social homes.
Under the scheme the Department will cover the cost of up to €11,000 per property for the refurbishment of standard vacant properties. Recognising that a small number of homes which are vacant do require significant investment to bring them back into use local authorities can recoup an average of €50,000 per property for up to 10% of their vacant stock. 
Commenting Minister O’Brien said, “I am delighted that my Department are now in a position to approve applications so that Fingal County Council can get to work in bringing vacant social housing properties back into use.
“Following a 13-week construction sector shut-down we know that COVID-19 will have an impact on housing delivery targets and the Government have said we will do all that we can to make up for any loss. The refurbishment and re-letting of vacant social housing stock is vitally important in this regard.
“The programme will also lead to an added economic benefit with further employment generated for local builders, carpenters, painters, plumbers, electricians etc.
“I would like to thank Fingal County Council for their engagement with this scheme and urge them to refurbish and re-let their units as soon as possible,” he concluded.

Building on the success of last year’s record investment in the voids programme, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien TD, has today announced another voids programme for 2021 which will see his Department provide funding for the refurbishment and re-letting of approx. 3,000 social homes this year.
All 31 Local Authorities have made applications under the scheme which will see them undertake remediation works in order to bring much needed local authority owned vacant stock back to productive use.
Under the scheme the Department will cover the cost of up to €11,000 per property for the refurbishment of standard vacant properties. Recognising that a small number of homes which are vacant do require significant investment to bring them back into use local authorities can recoup an average of €50,000 per property for up to 10% of their vacant stock. 
Commenting Minister O’Brien said, “I am delighted that my Department are now in a position to approve applications so that Local Authorities can get to work in bringing vacant social housing properties back into use.
“Following a 13-week construction sector shut-down we know that COVID-19 will have a significant impact on housing delivery targets and the Government have said we will do all that we can to make up for any loss. The refurbishment and re-letting of vacant social housing stock is vitally important in this regard.
“The programme will also lead to an added economic benefit with further employment generated for local builders, carpenters, painters, plumbers, electricians etc.
“I would like to thank local authorities for their engagement with this programme and urge them to refurbish and re-let their homes to those on the social housing waiting list and those experiencing homelessness as soon as possible,” he concluded.