The Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, Mr Eoghan Murphy TD, has performed the official opening of a new 20-unit social housing scheme in Killarney. The new estate, called ‘Lios an Fhia’, which was completed by Kerry County Council under the Rebuilding Ireland Programme, is situated at Park, Killarney and is located approximately two kilometres from Killarney town centre.

The €3.1m scheme of two-storey, three-bedroom units will provide homes for families currently in need of accommodation in the Killarney area and are finished to a very high standard. The project was overseen by the Capital Infrastructure Unit of Kerry County Council and was completed by Ned O’Shea and Sons Construction Ltd. Construction began in February 2017 and tenants have moved into the new homes last week.

Opening the new housing scheme today, Minister Murphy said: ‘I can see that this development has been designed and built to a very high standard. I understand there is an already vibrant community spirit in this area and the new residents here, in this new estate, will add to that.’

The Cathaoirleach of Kerry County Council, Cllr Norma Foley, said it was a wonderful day for Killarney and for Kerry: ‘Today’s development represents further progress on the significant work programme across all housing delivery streams through Kerry County Council and with the support of the government’s Rebuilding Ireland programme.

‘Those who will come to live in these houses will make them their homes and I hope that the new residents who come here will be very happy and comfortable. These houses are of exceptional quality and finished to a very high standard, so I have no doubt that they will make the new residents feel very much at home.’

Chief Executive of Kerry County Council, Moira Murrell, said: ‘This development here at Lios an Fhia is a great example of a high-quality development substantially designed in-house by a local authority and a demonstration of the results local authorities can deliver with the support of the Rebuilding Ireland programme.’

The Lios an Fhia scheme was designed by the Capital Infrastructure Unit of Kerry County Council. Architectural, civil and structural engineering services were carried out by the in-house team, whilst QS services were provided by Kane Crowe Kavanagh Quantity Surveyors. The houses are of traditional cavity wall construction with excellent insulation and airtightness levels. Each dwelling has an air to water heating system with underfloor heating to the ground floor and low temperature radiators to the first floor. All units have an A3 BER rating.