A new Focus Ireland housing development has been officially opened in Dungarvan, Co Waterford, this morning.
The development will see the charity provide 21 homes in Waterford in partnership with the Department of the Environment, and the Waterford City and Dungarvan Town Councils.
Minister for Housing and Urban Renewal Michael Finneran opened the housing scheme at 11.30am.
Focus Ireland has provided 92 homes in Waterford since 2005 under its five-year strategy to combat and prevent homelessness in Ireland, and it has provided 183 homes in the South East region since it first started work there in 2000.
The charity is aiming to deliver 800 homes around Ireland between 2005-2010.
Focus Ireland CEO Joyce Loughnan noted that the Government has signed up to a target of ending long-term homelessness by 2010, and she said any cuts in funding to housing and homeless programmes will undo the progress achieved.
"Focus Ireland suggests the time is right for significant investment by the Government in social housing programmes. This would protect jobs, stimulate economic growth and also provide more vital social housing for people who have no homes and tackle the housing waiting lists," Ms Loughnan said.
