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A BATCH OF apartments earmarked for key workers in Dublin is opening applications for tenancies tomorrow, with rents starting at €1,710 for a two-bed apartment.
Key workers like teachers, nurses and gardaí will be able to apply for one of the 46 apartments included in the scheme at Boland’s Mills in the Docklands.
However, they’ll need to have a connection to the local area to be eligible to apply.
The local area is defined as within a 1.5km radius of Boland’s Mills and examples of a connection to the area include being born and raised there, living in the area for a minimum of five years, having immediate family living in the area for a minimum of five years, and/or working in the area.
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Additionally, workers must be in a sector providing vital services for society, such as public safety, healthcare, education, transport, law and order or infrastructure.
For those who are successful, the monthly rent for a two-bedroom apartment in the complex is €1,710. There are 35 two-bed units available.
Ten three-bed apartments are available for a monthly rent of €1,850 and one larger three-bed is available for €2,100.
The rent rates are being advertised by Clúid, the approved housing body managing the scheme, as a discount of 27% and 36% on market average in Dublin 4.
Applicants must have a household income that means the rent is not higher than 35% of the household income, unless they can demonstrate that they have paid the same rent or higher for the preceding two years.
That means a household looking to move in to one of the two-bedroom apartments would need an income of around €58,629, while a standard three-bedroom apartment would need €63,429.
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@John Purcell: The fastest growing economy? You must be smoking or snorting the worst stuff. Ireland literally is third-last with a negative economic growth in 2024 (and similarly in 2023)
@J B: Yup but it makes no sense €1,850 for a 3 bed over €1,710 for a 2…I know, I know economies of scale etc. however childless, single people like mise ever avail of any discount. It’s the same with hotels.
@John O Reilly: the article says 27% and 36% discount on market rate (which is mental in Ireland atm). “Not much” in your words but still a bit better for those who’ll have them.
Can we collectively be positive about this? Love or loath Google, you have to admire this as a solution for so many under-paid, high valued personnel, necessary for the local community?
@Charles Kingston: Google employees don’t fall under the category of “Key” workers, and even if they did not many have ties to the area, nor have lived in the area for a minimum of five years. Their applications would be invalidated.
@Charles Kingston: Google had to give away units to either DCC or a housing body under part V legislation. Nothing against google but they aren’t giving away units for lower market rents on their own accord, they are doing it because they wouldn’t get permission in the first place if they don’t sign up to a Part V agreement..
@Charles Kingston: Read my reply again. This has nothing to do with Google. Google don’t own the entire Bolands Mills site. Cluid are dealing with the applicants. You’re the one mentioning Google. I simply said Google employees are not “Key” Staff. In nowhere in the article does it mention Google.
@Charles Kingston: Okay, now I get it. I didn’t know Google in on this. Nowhere in the article does it mention Google. Although I should really come to expect lots of missing information from the journal articles. They generally leave out a lot of details:
. https://www.cluid.ie/news-stories/46-discounted-rent-apartments-at-googles-bolands-mills/
.
Still, Google staff should not be allowed to apply for these 46 apartments. Elsewhere on the site, I suppose they’re allowed.
@Charles Kingston: After reading the full Cluid article, link above, it sounds like Google are actually offering these to their own staff, if the third party approvals board considers Google own staff as invaluable “Infrastructure” type workers. That clause sounds very open to interpretation. I wouldn’t be surprised if they managed to sneek long term local living Google staff into all 46 apartments.
It is interesting how it seems that we just accept insane rent prices as okay and normal. I was renting all my life in central Dublin and a two bedroom was €900 to €1200 (at full cost) 7 years ago.
There are a lot of key worker jobs which are not paid even close to the expected amount here on a “discounted” price.
They are already in deep trouble. Housing used to be seen as a basic need of humans. We are in trouble since housing has become an investment game for speculators to make quick profits.
In Japan they made sure that even in expensive Tokyo apartments are available for every salary range as all workers are honoured. Even the street sweeper.
Who & Why are providing these apartments at a discounted rent ?
.
That doesn’t make financial sense for whoever owns those apartments !
Yes, I know the rent is outrageous for most people in Ireland, but that’s a discussion for another day.
.
It’s the who and why bit I’m curious about.
Thanks
Tom
@Tom: Because when you build a housing development in Ireland over 4 units you have to provide 20% of the units to the local authority or a housing body under Part V legislation(10% in some cases). So Cluid are providing them at a cheaper rent. So for two working adults, 1700€ for a 2 bed, is only about €800 each in a city centre location. Sounds pretty good to me yet everyone here in the comments loves a moan..
@John Lee: Cluid may be providing them but it’s the taxpayer who is funding them via Cluid. Not saying it’s a bad idea, in fact I would move all the unemployed that are in social housing in the city to free it up for low paid workers. Move the doleheads to cheaper parts of the country.
@John Lee: You’re right, 1700 per month split two ways is very affordable compared to other local properties. Problem is they’re only available to public servants who don’t earn an awful lot of money.
Gardai top out at 57k after 8 years of service. 58k salary minimum in order to rent.
@Tom: 100% why are Public servants, who already have highly paid jobs, 100% secure and valuable pensions getting discounted rents funded by the tax payer? Makes no sense
@John Purcell: agreed, in any other profession this would be considered a taxable benefit. This is a cash equivalent perk and should be treated as such.
We British in Ireland welcome this opportunity to see Indian prople in the Gardaí and working in Healthcare being able to live there. This is one of the reasons I am becoming an Irish citizen.
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