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The Maigh Ruadh development. CHI

A €3.8 million co-operative housing scheme built on former ghost estate opens in Galway today

Families moving into the scheme are drawn from the Galway City Council housing list.

A NEW HOUSING scheme that will house 23 Galway families will be launched today.

Costing €3.8 million, the scheme at Maigh Rua in Doughiska was developed under a joint initiative between Co-operative Housing Ireland (CHI) and Galway City Council. Co-operative Housing Ireland (CHI) is the national organisation for co-operative housing.

It is the first development delivered by CHI in the west Ireland, following the appointment of a development manager for the region in 2016. CHI says a further 90 housing units are under development in Galway City and more than 200 additional homes are planned for the wider region over the coming 12 -18 months.

The Maigh Rua scheme comprises 23 apartments adjacent to the local quality bus corridor. It comprises one, two and three-bedroom apartments and townhouses. Many of the units are dual aspect with private balconies. Each apartment has its own individual self-contained external storage space accessed off the car park.

Development began on the site in 2008, but it remained unfinished until this latest scheme.

Funding for the scheme, on the site of what was a previously dormant development, is a result of collaborative support between Galway City Council, the Housing Finance Agency, and Department for Housing, Planning, Community, and Local Government.

Families moving into the scheme are drawn from the Galway City Council housing list and some of the households are coming from homelessness or overcrowded accommodation. Residents will become shareholding members of a local co-operative society.

Kieron Brennan CEO, Co-operative Housing Ireland said:

“The Maigh Rua scheme demonstrates how the co-operative model can provide fast and cost effective housing solutions working in partnership with local authorities and the private sector. We’ve developed a very supportive relationship with Galway City Council over the last year and are delighted that will have delivered more than 100 badly needed homes here by this time next.”

Read: ‘It’s absolute 100% greed’ – Evictions after apartment block bought by vulture fund

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18 Comments
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    Mute Minom Pnom
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    May 12th 2017, 6:56 AM

    I’d love a free house

    204
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    Mute Lucille Ball
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    May 12th 2017, 7:39 AM

    @Minom Pnom: maybe if you’re homeless or a low earner you’ll get one..be thankful for what you have

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    Mute Adrian
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    May 12th 2017, 8:16 AM

    @Minom Pnom: unfair as it is, don’t blame the people. This situation was created by shambolic gov policy and incompetent politicians basically making a balls of our property market.

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    Mute Roy Dowling
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    May 12th 2017, 9:04 AM

    @Lucille Ball: yes I’m thankful I can work for a living in order to rent a house and pay someone else’s mortgage. Im thankful knowing that next year I’ll be paying higher rent for the same property. Lots to be thankful for.

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    Mute eileen boles
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    May 12th 2017, 1:44 PM

    @Shoot First: i dont think they have in this day & age. If u have the means its not ok morally to be putting xtra burden on the state.

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    Mute Dave Thomas
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    May 12th 2017, 6:12 PM

    @Minom Pnom: house isn’t free they’ll have to pay rent which goes to the council, which in time will cover the cost.

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    Mute Virtual Architect
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    May 12th 2017, 8:24 PM

    @Adrian: Making a balls? No this is policy. Politicians are just doing what the international banking system tells them to do. They pay for their election campaigns with “loans” that they don’t have to pay back (unless they don’t do what their party masters say) i heard about this practise from a former Israeli government official. There is no such thing as democracy or a housing policy.

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    Mute Virtual Architect
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    May 12th 2017, 8:24 PM

    @Virtual Architect: pay masters

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    Mute Rathminder
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    May 12th 2017, 6:47 AM

    Nice to see that some communities in Ireland are able to build public housing. Perhaps a Dublin delegation should make a visit and find out how it’s done.

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    Mute Shaun Gallagher
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    May 12th 2017, 7:48 AM

    @Rathminder: And in fairness 3.8m to house23 family’s is not to bad. They will be paying this in Dublin for one house soon the way things are going

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    Mute gregory
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    May 12th 2017, 9:57 AM

    @Shaun Gallagher: 165k per appartment build cost. Land was free.

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    Mute Nucky
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    May 12th 2017, 12:51 PM

    @Rathminder: and look at the paper boxes being thrown up

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    Mute John O'Driscoll
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    May 12th 2017, 12:42 PM

    Great idea. I’m sure all the Syrian and Eritrean and so forth families it will house eventually will love it.

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    Mute Finbarr Lucey
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    May 12th 2017, 6:47 PM

    Why is it always non nationals rte news speak to when situations like this occur and I’m quiet sure there is plenty of Irish still homeless. It’s time we take back our country. Look after our own first and most of all.

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    Mute Anthony Gallagher
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    May 12th 2017, 12:18 PM

    This is an excellent project as it demonstrates new housing can be built without private developers .lets see these projects starting all over our country .i presume also the build quality will be of a higher standard .

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    Mute Noel Egan
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    May 14th 2017, 9:14 PM

    Agree with ya Finbarr. Know Irish families who are really struggling at the minute. Didn’t go mad during the boom. Just screwed over by the system. What they wouldn’t give for a leg up with their mortgage.

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    Mute Finbarr Lucey
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    May 15th 2017, 5:41 PM

    @Noel Egan: the system is a sham Noel and will still be whoever is in power. We’re a giveaway country to non nationals but rob our own people of a fair way of living. Easy to say that ireland is their home now I’d say the same of their country’s if I was living like they are here.

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