RIP Martina Comerford, our colleague, friend and Receptionist in High Park

It is with much sadness this week that we mark the sudden death of Martina Comerford, our colleague, friend and Receptionist in High Park.

Martina was such a warm character and a friendly face to all of us when we arrived in High Park welcoming services users, staff and visitors alike. She was also involved in volunteer

work outside of Respond in the area of animal rescue especially rescuing dogs. We will miss Martina’s welcoming smile, the interest she showed in everyone, and her kindness.

Our deepest sympathies go to Martina’s family and loved ones.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam

We have just opened a new Early Learning and School Age Care service in Co. Cork

We have just opened a new Early Learning and School Age Care service in Carraig Liath, Midleton Co. Cork, which will cater for 1-12 year olds. It will offer 34 places for 1-6yrs and 22 places for 6-12 year olds.

Respond has over 20 years of experience in the delivery of high quality Early Learning and School Age care. We have 16 services nationally, this will be our 17th, across 11 counties. Of these 12 are Early Year Services and 5 are standalone school age services. We provide the full range of services from full day care, part-time care, pre-school and school age care with over 500 children accessing our service daily.

If you’re interested in enrolling your child in Carraig Liath, you can call Dorota Przygoda on either of the numbers – Telephone: 0214613022 Mobile: 0877440069.

Email: CarraigLiathEY@respond.ie

RIP Eric Young, our colleague, friend and Head of Human Resources

It is with much sadness this week that we mark the sudden death of Eric Young, our colleague, friend and Head of Human Resources. Eric supported our organisation through huge growth and change. He was also involved extensively in volunteer work outside Respond including, youth services, school boards, the sea scouts and providing bereavement counselling. Most of all we remember Eric’s kindness and his love of a good joke. He will be dearly missed.

Our deepest sympathies go to Eric’s family and loved ones.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.

Invitation to tender: Evaluating Services

Respond’s vision, is that ‘every family and individual in Ireland will have high quality housing as part of a vibrant and caring community’. Our guiding principles; a human right to housing and; social justice, underpin our approach to delivering this vision. In practice, this means we provide homes and family and community programmes that support people to succeed, both as individuals and as part of a wider community. Respond, is an Approved Housing Body (AHB) and service provider and works all around Ireland. Founded in 1982, the organisation works with approximately 14,100 tenants living in over 6,400 homes across the 26 counties.

We now wish to undertake an independent evaluation, to deepen our understanding and knowledge about the services we deliver. This will progress Respond’s objective of becoming a learning organisation through assessment, evaluation, reflection, learning and implementation. It will build on existing expertise, experience and knowledge and will involve collaboration within and across teams. It will draw on existing internal research work and will be complementary to continuous change programmes already in place.

Our current services include Early Childhood Care and School Age Care, Family Support, Day Care Services for Older People, Refugee Resettlement Services, and Homeless Services for Families. The final outputs will include:

  • A detailed report of the evaluation process and findings
  • A roadmap on how to improve Respond’s services
  • A good practice guide on developing and enhancing community based services. It is a requirement that this guide is written to a publishable standard.

Due to the wide scope of the services to be evaluated and outputs required, we welcome collaborations and partnerships that will bring together the necessary disciplines and expertise.

The total budget for this research is €60,000.

The deadline for receiving submissions is: 2pm, 24th June 2022

Full details on the requirements of the tender and the process for submitting proposals are contained in the tender document that can be found at the link below.

If you would like any further information, please contact Reyhana Cushnan, Policy Manager by email to: reyhana.cushnan@respond.ie.

Find out more HERE.

First purpose built Cost Rental and social housing development wins Social Housing Development of the Year

Respond and Tuath Housing announced as winner at the National Property Awards 2022

Approved Housing Bodies Respond and Tuath have said they are delighted to be announced as the winners of Social Housing Development of the Year Property at the National Property Awards 2022. The award is for ‘Woodside’, a development on the Enniskerry Road (Dublin) of purpose built cost rental and social housing homes, delivered in partnership by Respond and Tuath Housing.

The scheme includes Ireland’s first purpose built cost rental homes consisting of 155 homes (50 cost rental and 105 social housing). The development was delivered by Respond and Tuath in partnership with Dun Laoghaire Rathdown Council, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, the Housing Agency and the Housing Finance Agency.

The homes are a mix of 1, 2 and 3 bedroom properties. All of the 50 Cost Rental homes are 2-bedroom apartments. The Cost Rental apartments are let at a monthly rent of €1,200, a significant reduction when compared to market rents for 2-bedroom apartments in this location. The rent charged to tenants will cover the cost of delivering, managing and maintaining these homes and will not be driven by market movements.

The development offers its tenants a community facility along with lots of green spaces. The site is located near to a wide range of amenities, public facilities, schools, health services, local community and sports groups.

Niamh Randall, Spokesperson for Respond said:

“Respond are delighted to have won this award with our partners in Tuath Housing. ‘Woodside’ on the Enniskerry Road is a unique collaboration between Respond and Tuath Housing, providing a new type of housing tenure in addition to social housing, private renting and private purchase. We are so pleased to have been able to welcome tenants to their new homes over the past few weeks and we hope they will be very happy living there. Our Housing team will be there to support them as they move into their new lifetime homes. This would not have been possible without the support and partnership of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, the Housing Agency and the Housing Finance Agency. We must also pay tribute to the excellent work of Duggan Brothers who were the contractors on site. We very much look forward to working with our partners to deliver further cost rental and social homes around the country to those who need them.”

Daragh O’Sullivan, Chairman of Tuath Housing commented;

“We are thrilled to have won the award for best Social Housing Development of the Year, along with our partners Respond, for this ground-breaking development of Ireland’s first purpose-built cost rental scheme combined with 105 high quality social homes at Woodside , Enniskerry Rd. We were delighted to have worked closely on the delivery of these homes with Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, the Housing Agency, the Housing Finance Agency and the Department of Housing, Local Government & Heritage. Huge credit must also go to Duggan Brothers for delivering the highest standard of homes at Woodside. The rent paid by the new tenants will cover the cost of providing, managing and maintaining the homes for decades to come, and not a cent more. This flagship project offers the new tenants a much more affordable, long-term and secure form of rental tenure with the added benefit that their rent will not be driven by future price hikes in the private rental market. We look forward to supporting the new tenants at Woodside, engaging and creating a sustainable community. We are pleased to be working on another six cost rental schemes and we look forward to allocating 250 properties throughout 2022 and 2023”.

Respond and Tuath together deliver the first purpose built cost rental homes in Ireland

Cost rental in a new tenure option in Ireland offering more affordability in the private rental sector  

The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage Darragh O’Brien T.D. opened Ireland’s first purpose build cost rental homes today. The scheme of 155 homes (50 cost rental and 105 social housing) is delivered by Respond and Tuath Approved Housing Bodies in partnership with Dun Laoghaire Rathdown Council, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, the Housing Agency and the Housing Finance Agency.

‘Woodside’ in Stepaside (Dublin) is a unique development. The homes will be managed by Respond and Tuath Housing.  The homes are a mix of 1, 2 and 3 bedroom properties. All of the 50 Cost Rental homes are 2-bedroom apartments. The Cost Rental apartments will be let at a monthly rent of €1,200, a significant reduction when compared to market rents for 2-bedroom apartments in this location. The rent charged to tenants will cover the cost of delivering, managing and maintaining these homes and will not be driven by market movements.

Niamh Randall, Spokeperson for Respond said:

“Respond are delighted to be involved in such a unique collaboration, bringing these 50 Cost Rental Homes to people who have been caught in an impossible situation where they do not qualify for social housing yet a mortgage is out of their reach. Some tenants have been struggling to pay high rents in the Private Rental Sector. Cost rental is a new departure in the delivery of housing in Ireland, providing a new type of housing tenure in addition to social housing, private renting and private purchase. Respond have been advocating for some time for a sustainable and replicable cost rental model.  We very much look forward to working with our partners to deliver additional cost rental homes around the country to those who are eligible in areas where they are needed.”

Daragh O’Sullivan, Chairman of Tuath Housing commented:

“Tuath are proud to partner with Respond on this ground-breaking development of Ireland’s first purpose-built cost rental scheme combined with 105 high quality homes for social rent in beautiful surroundings. We were also delighted to have worked closely on the delivery of these homes with Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, the Housing Agency, the Housing Finance Agency and the Department of Housing, Local Government & Heritage. The rent paid by tenants will cover the cost of providing, managing and maintaining the homes for decades to come, and not a cent more. This flagship project offers moderate income households a much more affordable, long-term and secure form of rental tenure with the added benefit that their rent will not be driven by future price hikes in the private rental market. We are pleased to be working on another six cost rental schemes and we look forward to allocating 250 properties throughout 2022 and 2023”.

Commenting Minister O’Brien said, “It’s my absolute pleasure to officially open Woodside here on the Enniskerry Road in Stepaside which consists of 105 social homes and 50 cost rental homes which will be managed and maintained by both Tuath and Respond Housing Associations. The Government’s Housing for All plan sets us on a pathway to delivering 300,000 new homes by the end of 2030. 90,000 of these will be social homes and 18,000 of these will be Cost Rental homes. Development’s such as this one which has been championed by Tuath and Respond with the support of my Department and South Dublin County Council are exactly what the Government want to, and will, deliver at scale. I want to commend everyone who played their role in bringing this project to fruition and wish all of the people who will make their home here the very best of luck.”

CEO of the Housing Agency Bob Jordan:

“We warmly welcome the official opening of the Woodside Development at Enniskerry Road, which will provide 155 much needed social and cost rental homes. The Housing Agency is playing a key role in the national rollout of cost rental homes, and we were pleased to transfer land to Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council for this first cost rental development on public land in Ireland. The Housing Agency has worked closely with the local authority as well as with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Tuath, Respond, and the Housing Finance Agency in delivering this project. We look forward to working together on future developments and we wish the tenants of Enniskerry Road many happy years in their new homes.”

CEO of the Housing Finance Agency, Barry O’Leary:

‘The HFA is delighted to support Respond and Tuath with this major new mixed use development on the Enniskerry Road which will provide a combination of 155 social and affordable cost rental homes for families in and around Dun Laoghaire Rathdown. We remain committed to supporting the strong delivery of social and affordable homes across the country and will continue to provide competitively priced long term fixed rate finance to Respond, Tuath and others in the sector.’

Cathaoirleach Lettie McCarthy:“I am delighted to be here to open the first purpose built cost rental housing scheme in Ireland. This development will provide much needed housing to the people of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown and it is wonderful to see a development which will provide security of tenure to its residents. I look forward to seeing similar schemes in the future.”

Respond Customer Service Centre (CSC) Holiday Opening Times

Our Respond Customer Service Centre, based at our Head Office in Waterford, will have limited operating hours over the upcoming holidays.

Easter Closure:
Thursday the 14th of April at 2pm and will reopen on Wednesday the 20th of April at 8:30am

Regular operating hours:

08:30 – 18:00 Monday to Thursday and 08:30 – 17:00 on Friday.

PH: 051 840200 alternatively, email info@respond.ie

We’re asking our Tenants to get involved

At Respond, we believe in placing Tenants at the centre of our work. We’re asking our Tenants to get involved.

Some of our Tenants have developed a survey for all tenants which is currently being printed and posted out.

We’re asking all of our tenants to complete and return the survey in the pre-paid envelope provided.

Thank you.

Respond welcome commitment in Budget 2022 to deliver social and cost rental homes

Respond welcome commitment in Budget 2022 to deliver social and cost rental homes

Adding to the national housing stock is vital to these commitments

12th October 2021: Respond, an Approved Housing Body and service provider, welcomed today’s Budget 2022 measures addressing housing and Early Years and School Age Care. The organisation said it is positive to see the Government commitment to a multi annual capital investment budget under Housing for All, the Government’s new housing strategy launched on September 2021.

Housing 

Niamh Randall, Head of Advocacy and Communications, reacting to initial announcements, welcomed the overall housing package with investment of €6bn to the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, with 2.5bn of this being capital funding for housing alone.

 

“Respond welcome the commitment to deliver more homes; specifically more social and cost rental homes.  We are keen to continue playing our part in delivering social and cost rental homes for individual and families who urgently need them, working with our partners in the Department of Housing, the Housing Finance Agency and Local Authorities.  It is very welcome to see the focus on new builds, adding to existing housing stock, which is a key objective for Respond. Respond currently have 1,602 in construction around the country. We look forward to more details and hope for a defined capital budget on a multiannual basis to facilitate a sustained delivery programme by Approved Housing Bodies like Respond.”

“The inclusion of the cost rental measures is a significant development that offers an alternative rental option, allowing for greater housing affordability and choice. This affordable rental option provides for people who do not qualify for social housing but may not be able to afford to purchase their own home. Some of these people are struggling to keep a roof over their heads in the private rental sector so the cost rental measures will make a real difference. We have been advocating for years for a sustainable and replicable model to deliver affordable rental homes, which we believe could be transformative. We are delighted to be involved in four of the pilot cost rental schemes in the state, including the first purpose built cost rental homes in the State at Enniskerry Road, Dublin and look forward to further implementation of this measure.”

“We understand a five year timeline has been committed to for the phasing out of private sector leasing. This should be kept under review with the option to accelerate the timeline if it continues to add to the cost of land and construction. It is a long and strongly held view of Respond that private sector leasing is not value for money for the state and it does not provide tenants with lifetime homes.”

“The commitment to a progressive national retrofitting programme is welcome and will allow for upgrades of older housing stock. We look forward to more detail on these announcements and implications for Approved Housing Bodies.”

“We also look forward to hearing more details about the Mica redress scheme. It is vital that Approved Housing Bodies are included in any such scheme.”

Early Years and School Age Care

Niamh Randall, Head of Advocacy and Communications said the reforms announced for the childcare sector were also welcome.

“As the provider of 17 Early Years and School Aged Care services, Respond welcome the focus on the sector and the recognition that it needs reform to ensure that there are more options for parents, community service providers and a more viable career path for people working within the sector.”

Contact: Helen McCormack, Communications Manager, Respond, 087 104 7793

About Respond

Respond, an Approved Housing Body and service provider, has been working all around Ireland for 39 years. Our vision is that every family and individual in Ireland will have high‐quality housing as part of a vibrant and caring community. Housing and decent accommodation, in the areas where people want to live, are central to improving people’s lives and enhancing the health and well‐being of society.

Approximately 12,065 tenants live in 4,834 homes across the 26 counties that we either own or manage; of these, there are 4,580 Respond social housing tenancies. Respond also provide a range of services for families and individuals within our communities. This includes emergency accommodation with 24/7 support for families who are homeless in six Family Homeless Services, three Day Care Services for Older People, 17 Early Childhood Care and Education, Family Support and Refugee Resettlement services. Our aim is to provide person centred services to support people to achieve their goals and reach their full potential.

.About Approved Housing Bodies

Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) are not-for-profit organisations that have a social purpose to provide for people’s housing needs by working in close co-operation with the Government, local authorities and relevant agencies.

 

Ennsikerry Road Pathfinder Project

The Enniskerry Road Pathfinder Project provides for 155 social and affordable homes which are being delivered by Respond and Tuath Housing Associations in partnership with Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council on land provided by the Housing Agency under the Land Aggregation Scheme. This first Cost Rental pilot project is the result of an innovative collaboration between Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, the Housing Agency, the Housing Finance Agency, the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government, Respond and Tuath Housing Associations. Located at Enniskerry Road, Stepaside, Dublin 18 the site is near to a wide range of amenities, public facilities, schools, health services, local community and sports groups. Enniskerry Road provides access to the LUAS Green Line, the 47 bus route, and the M50 motorway.

The project includes 50 Cost Rental homes and 105 social homes to be apportioned between Respond (78 homes including 25 Cost Rental) and Tuath (77 homes including 25 Cost Rental). The homes will be a mix of 1, 2 and 3 bedroom properties. All of the 50 Cost Rental homes will be 2-bedroom apartments.