"We are so grateful to have our forever home" - housing Minister opens Laois homes in big Portlaoise development
A block of 40 age-friendly apartments in Laois has been formally opened by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien TD.
The Maltings is a new three-storey block of 40 two-bed apartments in Portlaoise town centre near the train station, the first part of a larger development to be built off Harpur's Lane by Laois builders ONS Developments.
The homes will be owned and managed by Clann, Clúid’s age-friendly wing, for residents aged 55 and older.
All 40 apartments were designed and developed using the principles of Universal Design, to ensure their new residents can age in place and enjoy their homes for many years to come.
The scheme also benefits from a common room which, in the coming months and years, will host activities such as parties and bingo, as well as visits from local support services.
Pictured: Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage Darragh O’Brien cut the ribbon at new age-friendly Clúid development at The Malting, Portlaoise with Cllr Thomasina Connell, Cathaoirleach, Laois County Council, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Pippa Hackett; Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs, Sean Fleming, and Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley, John Mulholland, Laois County Council CEO, Cllr Barry Walsh and Cllr John Joe Fennelly.
Among them is Mary Lennon.
“We are so grateful to have our forever home. The attention and detail that has gone into the apartments is second to none, the best of everything has gone into these apartments. Everything has been planned out meticulously, right 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,” she said.
Minister O’Brien also met residents of the 15 new social houses built in Roselawn beside the apartments also managed by Clúid.
“I’m delighted to be here today to officially open these two new developments, which provide much needed social housing at the heart of Portlaoise. Clúid continues to delivery 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 all 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,” he said.
Cathaoirleach of Laois County Council is Cllr Thomasina Connell.
“Laois County Council is proud to support this development dedicated to age friendly 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 Dept of Housing for the supports given to make such schemes possible,” she said.
The Chief Executive of Laois County Council is John Mulholland.
“The pipeline for the delivery of high quality social housing is exceptionally strong in Co Laois. In the two year period 2022 and 2023 it is expected that with our trusted partners in the AHB sector, we will have constructed over 550 new homes.
Pictured: Jekaterina Mihailova and her sons Daniel and Marks outside their new Clúid home in Roselawn, Portlaoise.
The Maltings development is named in recognition of the former use of the site, which provided malt to the Guinness and Smithwicks breweries, among others. When complete, it will include four additional apartment blocks and a nursing home.
The scheme is now fully occupied, with residents allocated from Laois County Council’s housing list now settling in.
Aoife Flynn-Kennedy is Head of Clann at Clúid Housing.
“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,” she said.
Both schemes had benefited from support from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, the Housing Finance Agency, the Housing Agency and Laois County Council.