Taoiseach talks up Longford's economic future: "We need enterprise here and we need to create opportunities for people to live in Longford"

“We anticipate more people will come into Longford and more people will want to live in Longford,” An Taoiseach Micheál Martin said as he addressed the media at the official opening of the local authority's latest social housing development.

The country's political leader was on hand as the new housing project delivered under the Social Housing Capital Investment Programme was unveiled to the public. St Michael’s Court, adjacent to St Michael’s Road, is a project by Donnelly Developments that saw an investment of €4 million in sustainable social housing.

The development comprises 14 units including four three-bedroomed units and 10 two-bedroomed units. Thirteen of the 14 units have been allocated and will accommodate 15 adults and six children.

Taoiseach Martin said the project augurs well for the county: “Longford wants to grow. Longford wants to develop. We need enterprise here and we need to create opportunities for people to live in Longford at affordable prices,” he said, “The country is growing, I just witnessed the signing of contracts for an €8m rural development project for Ballymahon.

“They will facilitate rural hubs and a family resource centre. We anticipate more people will be coming to Longford to live.”

The springboard for the Taoiseach's comments were questions about proposed areas for modular housing for refugees: “These are State owned lands.

There's a barracks here that needs an overall development plan, as has happened in other towns where barracks were closed. They have been used to regenerate a lot of other economic activity, as well as residential, retail and micro-enterprise and amenities.”

Closed in 2009 Connolly Barracks has been the subject of a number of proposals since it went into local authority ownership in 2012: “These lands seem to be lying idle for quite a considerable length of time.

“I'm not going to get involved in the local resolutions of this, that is a matter for the council, but I will say this; everyday in the Dáil people are asking me to declare the housing situation “an emergency”, yet when you translate that to local level people always see it through that lens.”

Taoiseach Martin spoke of the Government's priorities in the area: “People in this country need housing, the younger generation need housing. The OPW in good faith is identifying the land we have. We are working with State agencies to identify land that is available,” he concluded.

At the launch Longford County Council Cathaoirleach Cllr Turlough McGovern spoke of the importance of the project for the new residences: “They will have new homes within the local community. They offer excellent places to live and I wish them the best of luck in their new homes.”

Longford County Council Chief Executive Paddy Mahon added, “The standard of housing we see here today is excellent.
“Thanks to the construction and design teams involved.”

This project was compliant with key criteria for sustainable social homes.