COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, November 10, 2008

QUESTION NO. 9

QUESTION: Councillor E. Tuffy

To ask the Manager for an updated report on the Council's projects to provide supported housing for older persons during the last four years?

REPLY:

In the past four years senior citizen specific accommodation has been provided at the following locations throughout the County:

Jobstown Village Core Tallaght  and Liscarne   Senior Citizens Complex, Clondalkin.

The wide range of support services available from the Liscarne Complex are available to the residents of Neilstown Village Court and the wider community of Clondalkin.  Services provided include subsidized meals, social/recreation   and medical support.  The Liscarne Complex has been short-listed for the National Pride of Place Competition due to take place in Waterford 8th November 08.

The Council’s housing stock comprises of 740 single person units which includes the following cluster of senior citizen specific accommodation which continue to be prioritized for upgrading on an ongoing basis subject to finance  being available.

Lucan

Airlie Heights                                    11 Units                                          

Arthur Griffith Court                           8 Units

St Finians Avenue                              18 Units

Esker Drive                                        2 Units

Sarsfields Close                                16 Units

Clondalkin

Kilmahuddrick Crescent                     17 Units

Melrose Park                                     7 Units

Lealand Avenue                                 10 Units

Lindisfarne Grove                             11 Units

Lindisfarne Lawns                             15 Units

Liscarne Complex                             74 Units

Neilstown Village Court                     11 Units

Oldchurch Drive                                11 Units

Tallaght  South

Balrothery Estate                               12 Units

Brookview Terrace                            8 Units

Jobstown Village Square                  10 Units

Pairc Mhuire                                     4 Units

Rathlawns                                         4 Units

Tallaght Central

Limekiln Green                                 16 Units

St. Maelruans Park                            4 Units

Tymon North Court                           11 Units

Tymon North Place                           15 Units

Tymonville Park                                5 Units

Terenure/Rathfarnham

Willbrook                                           4 Units

Under Part V of the Local Government Planning and Development Act, 2000 as amended the Council is acquiring the following sheltered housing projects in conjunction with Housing Associations/developers:

Location	Housing Association	Proposed Units	Current Position
Whitestown Way	Fold Housing Association	35	These units are due for completion in  2008 and will be managed by Fold Housing Association (Ireland) limited and subject to Part V negotiations.
Cherryville, New Road Clondalkin	To be determined	9	These units are due for completion in 2008
College Drive, Terenure	Fold Housing Association	23 + caretakers unit	Subject to Part V Negotiations

A draft Financial Contributions Scheme similar to that which is operated by Dublin City Council is currently being finalized with a view to bringing a report to the meeting of the Housing SPC early in 2009. The scheme is targeted at senior citizens throughout the county who are home owners, who may be over-accommodated in their own homes and because of age/infirmary, are no longer able to maintain their homes and garden.  The scheme provides that such applicants may apply to SDCC to purchase their family home on condition that a percentage of the proceeds from the sale of the house be paid to the Council in exchange for a life-long tenancy of sheltered accommodation. It is envisaged that such a scheme would provide an important mechanism for sourcing family type houses for letting by the Council while responding to the needs of our elderly community through the provision of sheltered accommodation.

The Council will also continue to promote the improved use of its own rented housing stock through facilitating, where possible, existing elderly Council tenants wishing to surrender larger units of accommodation in return for housing in smaller units of accommodation more suited to their needs. 

The terms of the Capital Assistance Scheme for voluntary housing projects, funded by the DoEHLG, through the local authorities allow for up to 25% of the accommodation in a VHA project being allocated to elderly emigrants returning to this country from abroad who satisfy the required eligibility criteria. The scheme is facilitated by the Safe Home Programme based in Mulranny Co. Mayo in respect of which a presentation was made to the Housing SPC earlier this year.