The first phase of homes in one of Dublin City Council's largest housing projects was launched today, a year after work was stalled on the development due to the discovery of a number of building defects.
The Oscar Traynor Woods site in Coolock in north Dublin also attracted controversy because some affordable homes in the scheme are priced at just under half-a-million euro.
The 42-acre site has been in the possession of Dublin City Council for more than four decades and was used as a compound for the construction of the nearby Port Tunnel until that project was completed in 2007.
However, plans to develop housing here were abandoned when the economic crash came in 2008.
When they were revived a decade later, they were rejected by councillors because half of the homes built on the site were to be sold by the private developer.
Councillors eventually agreed in 2021 to a scheme of social, affordable and cost rental properties to be constructed by Glenveagh, but work, which began in late 2023, stalled on the site last year in January 2025 when some building defects were discovered.
There was also controversy over the cost of affordable homes on this site, with some units priced at €475,000 for those with higher incomes.
Today, Dublin City Council and the property developer said that all the building issues have been resolved and have not delayed the project completion date, which is still on track for 2027.
CEO of Glenveagh, Stephen Garvey, said house owners do not need to be concerned about the homes which have received full certification.
"We with Dublin City Council, who are partners, sat down around the table and worked everything out. There were issues that we had highlighted, that we had different reads on and codes versus what they saw, but all of those issues have been resolved. The first homes have gone through the CCC system in building control and have all been certified.
"All these units, we've went through the rigorous process of tests and certification, all of that has been complied with."
Dublin City Council's head of housing, Mick Mulhern, said the pricing for development is in line with the legal requirements of what is an affordable home.
"On average, what we are seeing is these homes that we're delivering as affordable purchase are about 24% to 25% below open market values. The 16 affordable purchase homes that we're delivering in this phase, they range in price from €254,000 to €475,000.
"That ranges from a one-bed maisonette to a three-bed house. The incomes needed to secure those homes range between €54,000 for a household income up to €105,000, so that's very much in line with the legislation and the legislative requirements for what is defined to be affordable."
"We've also just launched our second phase, so there's 57 affordable homes ready to be... they're all being advertised at the moment; people can go in and apply for those homes right now, and those prices are broadly comparable to the prices for phase one."
He also said the model of a mix of housing on this site is now being replicated in other housing projects in the capital.
"The whole development is public housing on public land. It's the delivery of social housing, cost-rental homes, and affordable purchase homes. So, people are able to afford to live here, to move in off the social housing waiting list. It has taken a while to come to that agreement, but it's a template now that we're able to roll out across our other big sites in the city."
64 homes of the 850 homes due to be delivered at Oscar Traynor Woods were launched today in association with the housing body Clúid.
Residents received the keys in recent weeks to 24 social, 24 cost-rental and 16 affordable purchase homes, which were a mix of apartments and houses.
Dublin City Council said it is now accepting applications for the next phase of 57 affordable purchase homes at the site, which are due to be delivered later this year.
There are 16 one-bedroom maisonettes, nine two-bedroom maisonettes, nine two-bedroom duplexes, nine three-bedroom duplexes, two two-bedroom houses and 12 three-bedroom houses available in this next phase.
Under the Affordable Housing Scheme, Dublin City Council said it helps eligible households bridge the gap between their mortgage/deposit and the market value of a home, in return for a percentage equity share, and the price successful applicants will pay will depend on how much the person or family earns.
Households on lower incomes, who have additional savings, may also be eligible to apply. In the latest phase of the scheme: One-bedroom maisonettes will cost between €254,000 and €308,000 for those earning €57,000 to €69,000.
Two-bedroom maisonettes and duplexes will cost between €312,000 and €403,000 for those earning €70,000 to €91,000.
Three-bedroom duplexes will cost between €352,000 and €427,000 for those earning €79,000 to €96,000.
Two-bedroom houses will cost between €325,000 and €427,000 for those earning €73,000 to €96,000.
Three-bedroom houses will cost between €357,000 and €475,000 for those earning €80,000 to €106,000.
Chief Executive of Dublin City Council Richard Shakespeare said the launch of the housing was a proud day for the council, which he said - "showcases our ambition and commitment to delivering mixed-tenure developments that are affordable and sustainable".
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