Record amount of €922 million allocated for social housingThe Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government has allocated €922 million to housing authority housing programmes for 2005.
It says this is a record increase of 19.3 per cent on 2004. Of this, €841 million will fund the provision of local authority housing and €45 million will go towards Traveller accommodation and support.
Remedial works to local authority dwellings will benefit to the tune of €36 million.
The allocation of €841 million for the provision of local authority housing provides for work in progress on over 6,500 housing units and for authorities to start construction or acquire 5,500 houses this year.
This also provides for the scheme of extensions to local authority housing to relieve overcrowding and the improvement works in lieu of local authority housing schemes.
Rush scheme with 129 townhouses gets green light
Two Rush residents have lost their An Bord Pleanála appeal to stop a 129-unit townhouse and apartment development fronting Skerries Road.
Granway Limited, whose directors are Declan and Ita Kelly, was granted permission to build the scheme and the board ruled that the scheme was "acceptable in terms of traffic safety" and "not prejudicial to public health".
Among the conditions of permission are that the developer agree detailed proposals for the provision of a pedestrian and cycle link from the development to Main Street via Farren's Lane.
Apartments planned for Strand Cinema site in Dublin 3
The former Strand Cinema in North Strand, Dublin 3 is to be turned into a 66-unit apartment scheme if a planning application to Dublin City Council is successful.
Alan Costello Builders has applied for permission to Dublin City Council for a development at 149, 149a to 149c North Strand Road. The development will also include a 746sq m (8,030sq ft) medical centre, a chemist shop, consulting rooms and 64 car-parking spaces at basement level.
