Official opening of 46 high-quality new social homes at The Rectory in Blessington, Co. Wicklow
- Published on: 4 October 2024
- Last updated on: 12 April 2025
Taoiseach Simon Harris and the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien, today officially opened 46 new social homes at The Rectory in Blessington. These new homes were delivered by Co-operative Housing Ireland in partnership with Wicklow County Council and over 160 people are now enjoying the benefits of living in this well-serviced community.
The Rectory exemplifies the type of development being delivered up and down the country under Housing for All, increasing our stock of social housing and providing homes to those most in need.
Last year saw us deliver almost 12,000 social homes across the country, more than at any time since 1975, and this year will see this continue with over 25,000 new social homes at various stages of design and construction.
This success is being achieved through collaboration with vital partners in the Approved Housing Body sector, such as Co-operative Housing Ireland. Co-operative Housing Ireland is to be commended for its specific contribution, not just to The Rectory, but having provided thousands of high-quality homes and supporting many communities, based on their vision of “those who need a home will have a home”.
Housing for All is delivering and will deliver even more. This week’s budget committed over €2 billion capital investment in social housing for 2025. This funding will be focussed on delivering new build homes in communities such as this one.
We have a very strong pipeline for houses of all types, with building started on almost 38,000 homes in the first eight months of this year. That’s 224 homes commenced every working day this year.
Taoiseach Simon Harris said:
“It is wonderful to see firsthand what can be achieved through collaboration between Approved Housing Bodies, Local Authorities and support from Government, working with private industry.
“Housing is the greatest challenge our country faces, but today’s launch is a further signal of real progress being made in communities across the country.
“I am really pleased to be here in my home county to open these 46 homes, and see families settle into their forever home.
“Every single day, this Government will do everything we can to build more homes and create more homeownership. Today is a further example of that.”
Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien said:
“In 2023, this Government delivered more social homes than we had since the mid-1970s. This year will see us deliver even more.
“We are able to do this through the successful partnerships we have with our Approved Housing Body Sector, our Local Authorities, our supporting agencies and importantly with a whole of Government approach to housing.
“To see families get the keys to their forever homes is the ultimate highlight of my job and thankfully many more will continue to do so through the support of this Government.”
ENDS