An £11 million (€13.97m) "foyer housing concept" project has been launched by Dublin Corporation at Marrowbone Lane in the Liberties/Coombe area. It will provide managed social housing for young single people with training, education and employment services in the same building. A multi-purpose community sports and leisure facility is also on site.
The project is a joint initiative between Dublin Corporation, Cara Housing Association and St Catherine's Combined Communities Group. The Dublin city manager Mr John Fitzgerald described the project as a "flagship investment in the urban regeneration of the south inner city".
As well as developing social, community and recreational facilities, the project aims to develop new approaches to training and education combined with new enterprise activities emerging from the Digital Media District, which is also being developed in the area.
Cara Housing Association, chaired by TD Jan O'Sullivan, is an approved voluntary housing association developing the "foyer housing" concept. This is an integrated approach to accommodation, education and training to create the basis for independent living for young people.
At Marrowbone Lane, there will be 50 single person apartments, a lecture theatre, training rooms and a cafe. The sports centre will be open to the wider community and will include a sports hall, gym, ancillary meeting and function rooms and an outdoor play area.
The project is funded by the Department of the Environment and Local Government, the Department of Tourism, Sport and Recreation, Dublin Corporation and St Catherine's Combined Communities Group. Work is expected to get underway in July.
