Total of 136 people in emergency accommodation across Offaly

A TOTAL of 136 people are currently in Emergency Accommodation in Offaly, a recent meeting of Offaly County Council was told.
Of this number, 44 are single people. The remainder are 23 couples / families comprising of 33 adults and 59 children.
The meeting was also told that the Council's total housing stock is now 2,226 units. There are 580 on the Social Housing Support List, and a further 361 active tenancies are being supported under the Housing Assistance Payments (HAP) Scheme.
The meeting was also told that ten new units are being planned for Macregol Drive, Scurragh, Birr. Consultants have been appointed for these ten new units and survey works are being carried out, “working towards a Stage 2 submission.”
19 new units are being planned for Rathbaun, Shinrone. The Council said “Stage 1 Approval” was granted on 26th January last, and the Council is “working with the Housing Agency on the procurement of an Architect-led Design Team for a Design Built contract.”
20 new units are being planned for Dargan Drive, Chancery Lane, Tullamore. “The revised Stage 2 approval for the Dargan Drive development was received on the 21st of January last,” the Councillors were told, “enabling the Works Contract for the undergrounding of ESB lines and boundary works to proceed in line with the approved budget. The Stage 3 submission will then be required for the Main Contract Works.”
Stage 2 Approval in the County Council Housing Capital Programme is an important milestone in the development of social housing projects, involving Approval-in-Principle from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (DHLGH). It follows the initial project concept (Stage 1) and signifies that the Department has reviewed and approved the preliminary design and cost strategy, allowing the project to proceed towards the next stage.

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