Clúid Housing and Clann deliver new homes in Portlaoise

Portlaoise has recently witnessed the completion of two new high-quality social housing developments.

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien TD, met some of the new residents of The Maltings when he visited to officially open the schemes.

The Maltings, a three-storey block composed of forty twobed apartments, is managed by Clann, Clúid’s age-friendly offering for residents aged fiftyfive and older.

All the apartments were designed and developed using the principles of Universal Design, to ensure the residents can age in place and enjoy their homes for many years.

The scheme also benefits from a common room which will host many enriching activities for the residents, as well as the provision of local support services for the community.

Recognition

The Maltings name comes from the former use of the site; it provided malt to the Guinness and Smithwicks breweries, among others.

Completed, the development will include four additional apartment blocks and a nursing home.

Minister O’Brien, alongside the Cathaoirleach of Laois County Council, Cllr Thomasina Connell, and Chief Executive of Laois County Council, John Mulholland, also met with residents of 15 new social homes, owned and managed by Clúid Housing, at the nearby Roselawn.

These three-bedroom homes completed a pre-exiting estate.

The scheme is now fully occupied, with residents allocated from Laois County Council’s housing list.

Mary Lennon, resident of The Maltings, said: ‘We are so grateful to have our forever home. The attention and detail is second to none, the best of everything has gone into these apartments.

‘Everything has been planned out meticulously, down to the personal alarm system Clann has provided in each apartment.

‘We feel part of a community and are looking forward to the next chapter.’

Minister Darragh O’Brien TD said: ‘I’m delighted to officially open these two new developments, which provide much needed social housing in the heart of Portlaoise.

‘Clúid continues to deliver high-quality homes for families on the local authority’s housing lists.

‘It’s fantastic to see the growing number of homes in their age-friendly offering, Clann.

‘I am always heartened to see new developments like these, which allow households to live within walking distance of the amenities they need, and which ensure continued life in our towns and cities.

‘I commend Laois County Council and Clúid Housing for their hard work in producing these beautiful, well-designed homes, and their contribution to achieving the Government’s Housing for All targets.’

Cathaoirleach of Laois County Council, Cllr. Thomasina Connell, commented: ‘Laois County

Council is proud to support this development dedicated to agefriendly housing in Laois.

‘Clúid and developer ONS Developments have produced high-quality houses in which residents are proud to make their forever homes.

‘Thanks to the Minister and the Department of Housing for the supports given to make such schemes possible.’

Chief Executive of Louth County Council, John Mulholland, stated: ‘The pipeline for the delivery of high-quality social housing is exceptionally strong in County Laois.

‘In the two-year period 2022 and 2023 it is expected that Laois County Council, with its trusted partners in the AHB sector, will have constructed over 550 new homes.

‘The completion of 55 homes at the Maltings is one example where Clúid, ONS Construction and Laois County Council have worked in close collaboration to bring top-class residential development to a great location.

‘I congratulate the team at Clúid and at ONS Construction and I wish well to the many new residents of the Maltings.’

Aoife Flynn-Kennedy, Head of Clann, Clúid Housing, said: ‘We’re delighted to welcome Minister O’Brien, Cllr Connell and John Mulholland to our new homes in Portlaoise.

‘The support of the Department and Laois County Council have been vital in delivering these fine homes, which will have an enormous impact on the individuals and families now living here.

‘It has been wonderful to meet some of the residents and hear what having a high-quality, secure home means to them.

Everyone in Clúid and Clann wishes our new residents many years of happiness as they create a community here.’

Both schemes benefited from support from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, the Housing Finance Agency, the Housing Agency and Laois County Council.