This article is from page 3 of the 2012-03-06 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 3 JPG
THE village of Kilmaley is to get an economic and jobs boost, as a result of further investment into a local voluntary housing scheme.
The Kilmaley Voluntary Housing Association has received € 2.126 million from the Department of the Environment Community and Lo- cal Government, which will fund the building of 12 new houses for older people. This will bring to 24 the number of houses in the scheme.
Kilmaley Voluntary Housing Association Director Cllr Tom McNamara (FF) said the committee fought hard for the funding, but it will prove to be great value for money in the provision of elderly care.
The group now hopes the HSE will provide funding for at least two supervising staff for the housing scheme.
Cllr McNamara explained that many of the residents living in the houses have been there for a number of years, and require a little more support. He said it is also hoped that the adjoining day care centre’s opening hours will be extended to seven days a week. The day care centre is currently open four days a week providing services to at least 100 people from Kilmaley, Lissycasey, Inagh/ Kilnamona and Coor as well as some people from Ennis.
It currently costs between € 300,000 and € 400,000 to maintain the service, with the HSE providing € 158,000.
Cllr McNamara maintains that the service could be extended to seven days a week at a relatively low cost and is hoping to receive HSE support to undertake this challenge.
It is hoped building on the new houses will begin next month and is likely to take 10 months to complete.
The construction phase will provide much needed employment and a local income injection according to Cllr McNamara.