The announcement of a €15 million “Housing with Support” pilot scheme for older people expected to bring 52 new homes to St. Michael’s Estate, Inchicore has been made by the Minister for Housing and Urban Development, Damien English.
The pilot project, currently in the first phase, is expected to be completed by 2020.
“Part of the St. Michael’s Estate site in Inchicore has been identified as a “Housing with Support” demonstrator model under Rebuilding Ireland,” said Minister English at the launch in the Mansion House, Dublin.
The overall aim of this project is to develop a new model of housing for older people where the key components; physical environment and care supports are provided onsite, integrated into the community and are designed with older people at the centre.
Under the Department of Housing’s Capital Assistance Scheme, €14,934,528 in funding was approved with a contribution of €450,000 from the HSE/Department of Health towards additional communal facilities for the residents.
The ‘Housing with Support’ project is a result of work carried out by the Dublin City Age Friendly Housing Working Group (HWG) which was established following a Housing Summit held in October 2015
It is jointly commissioned by Dublin City Council and the HSE.
Lord Mayor of Dublin, Mícheál MacDonncha welcomed the announcement by adding:
“The challenge remains to create socially engaged communities by designing a place where home is about the needs of the older person and this project will set the standard for housing for older people in Ireland.
“I welcome this first phase and look forward to the development of the entire St. Michael’s Estate with Dublin City Council as the lead developer of social and affordable housing.”
