Work is beginning on the first public-private housing project of its kind in Ireland despite strong opposition from Sinn Féin, a Fine Gael TD has said. Dublin Mid-West TD, Emer Higgins, said the construction will create 1,034 family homes in Kilcarbery in Clondalkin. This project was opposed by Sinn Féin and Mark Ward TD, the former Mayor of the County in 2018. Deputy Higgins said: “I’m delighted that construction is beginning on this Clondalkin development so that we can move another step closer to achieving the most important housing goal – delivering homes that people so badly need. That is a shared objective that needs to be put above ideology.
“Sinn Féin never miss an opportunity to vocalise their criticism of the Government’s housing policy, but they see no issue in opposing projects like this one in Clondalkin, because they disagree with the public-private model; but you either want houses built on the site or you don’t. “The development will have a mixture of tenure and size, ranging from four-bedroom houses to one-bedroom apartments. Almost one third of the homes built are earmarked for social housing, something I know will be welcomed by those on our local housing list looking to live and raise their families in Clondalkin. “Phase one of the development will see the construction of 301 new homes and 112 of these will be for social housing. This Kilcarbery development will help us tackle the issues of supply and affordability, that are further exacerbating our housing problems. “Now that residential construction can safely resume, I’m delighted to see this project is already underway. If Sinn Féin had their way this wouldn’t be the case,” Deputy Higgins concluded.
