Keys before Christmas for long delayed Laois social houses
Keys of 14 new Laois social houses are finally being handed over to families this week, after a delay of 16 months in finishing them off.
The extension to Clonrooske Abbey estate in Portlaoise has been beset by construction delays, but there is "white smoke" just in time for Christmas for part of the development, as Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley describes.
"It's 16 months late, it's crazy, but 14 families will be very happy for Christmas, getting the keys to their new homes," she said at the November council meeting.
"I thank the council staff and Clúid. It was unfortunate that we were one step removed as Clúid was dealing with the builder," Cllr Dwane Stanley said.
She had tabled several motions over that time pushing for the homes to be completed. Along with Cllr Catherine Fitzgerald, she had raised concerns after the contract ran out on the turnkey project, leaving the builder legally free to sell the houses on the private market.
The homes now ready include 10 with three bedroom and four with 4 bedrooms.
They are being built by a private developer to sell to the Clúid Approved Housing Body, to house people on Laois County Council's housing waiting list.
Clúid itself had expressed disappointment at the delayed handover of the completed homes.
Last September, David Murphy, New Business Manager with Clúid Housing told the Leinster Express / Laois Live that "Clúid is disappointed that delays beyond our control mean that up to 18 homes in Clonrooske Abbey will not be delivered as planned."
"However, we are pleased to welcome at least 14 families on Laois County Council’s housing list to their new home in the development this year," he said.
The keys are expected to be handed over this week.
Another 18 homes in the development will not be ready until next year. A dozen of them are to be delivered by March 2023, and the final six by June 2023.