Skip to main content

Peter McVerry Trust launches social housing project

The homeless and housing charity Peter McVerry Trust officially launched 6 new social housing apartments in Dublin 8 today. The former local authority voids were launched by the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Críona Ní Dhálaigh and have been extensively renovated with funding from Saint-Gobain Ireland as well as the charity’s own funds.

Pat Doyle CEO of Peter McVerry Trust said “Peter McVerry Trust is delighted to officially launch these new social housing units today. The homeless and housing crises have been well documented so every new home we can create is extremely important. We are proud to be able to hand over the keys of these apartments to 6 people who can now leave homelessness behind them.”

The charity highlighted the contribution of Saint-Gobain Ireland who financed the work “Peter McVerry Trust is extremely appreciative of the support Saint-Gobain Ireland provided. The €100,000 funding that they secured has allowed us to transform these empty units back into homes of the highest standards.”

Speaking on behalf of Saint-Gobain Ireland Brian Dolan, Managing Director, said “We were delighted to be able to assist the Peter McVerry Trust on this project, given the deepening crisis in social housing in Ireland. This project will give 6 people homes and we hope that their new home brings them security and pride. Part of our corporate and social responsibility is to support our local communities, and supporting a building project for the Peter McVerry Trust is a great match in that regard ”

Ardmhéara Críona Ní Dhálaigh, who performed the official opening welcomed the new units “I commend Peter McVerry Trust’s work to deliver new housing units. It is imperative that more funding is made available and I am calling on Minister Kelly to ensure that local authorities are given funding to bring back all suitable voids as quickly as possibly. I also would encourage companies in the private sector to follow the lead of Saint Gobain in helping to fund social housing projects. 

Further Announcements Expected

Concluding Mr Doyle said “Peter McVerry Trust is working closely with Dublin City Council and the Dublin Region Homeless Executive to identify projects that can be turned around quickly in order to deliver badly needed social housing. Peter McVerry Trust expects to announce a number of new projects in the coming weeks and months that will significantly increase the number of homes we are providing to help tackle the homelessness and social housing crises.”.

Note to the editor

This is the first project in Ireland or the UK to be funded through the Saint-Gobain Initiatives Foundation. The foundation was founded in 2008 and supports employment programmes for disadvantaged youths, improvements in low quality housing and energy efficiency in social housing projects. Saint-Gobain Ireland partnered with Peter McVerry Trust to secure funding from the foundation.

The project architects were Fitzgerald Kavanagh and Partners and the main contractor was Dartmouth Building Works.

Further information:

Francis Doherty Communications and Advocacy Manager 087 9421 051