Co-operative Housing Ireland and Focus Housing Associations welcomed Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien, TD, CIIr. Jim Finucane, Cathaoirleach of Kerry County Council, and respected members of Castleisland Corca Dhuibhne’s Municipal District, to launch 67 new homes in Co. Kerry. These homes are being provided in collaboration between two Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) Co-operative Housing Ireland (CHI) and Focus Housing Association and its sister organisation Focus Ireland. The 67 homes at Riverside represent the first social housing development delivered in Co. Kerry by Focus Housing Association, and continued strong delivery in the county for CHI, which currently owns and manages 315 homes in Kerry, 250 of which have come under management in the last two years alone.  

CHI Chairperson, Pearse O’Shiel, said, “Aligned to Focus Housing Associations ethos, our aim is to provide much more than just a roof over your head. As a co-operative of co-operatives, community is at the core of everything we do. CHI’s national community, of which Riverside Member Tenants are a part, now spans 5,000 homes with more than 14,000 people across 24 counties. Working in partnership with Kerry County Council is extremely important to CHI. Currently, we have over 300 homes in our development pipeline for the county.”

Speaking at the launch, Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien, TD, said, “2023 was a year of record social housing delivery with almost 12,000 new social homes delivered, a 16% increase on 2022. The work of Approved Housing Bodies, such as Focus Housing Association and Co-operative Housing Ireland, remains crucial to our strategy to meet our delivery targets in Housing for All. We want to celebrate innovative approaches such as the partnership between Focus Housing Association and Co-operative Housing Ireland here today.” 

Cllr Jim Finucane, Cathaoirleach of Kerry County Council, said, “Riverside, and its blossoming community, are a testament to what co-operation can achieve. Kerry County Council is proud to have supported CHI and Focus Housing Association in delivering these high quality, a-rated homes to help meet housing needs. These 67 homes represent one of the largest developments of social and affordable housing delivered in Kerry in 2024 thus far.” 

Riverside comprises of 31 homes delivered by Focus Housing Association and 36 homes by Co-operative Housing Ireland. The homes were built and developed by Donald Lynch KPH Construction and designed by Meitheal Architects. Riverside was delivered with the support of Kerry County Council, the Department of Housing, and Local Government and Heritage, the Housing Finance Agency, and the Housing Agency.  

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