Today members of Dalaradia attended an event inviting local groups to the newly built houses on Rathcoole Drive at the former Newtownabbey School site. It offered groups the opportunity to see some completed homes and get an update on future handovers.
The APEX development offers 103 new social homes. We believe social housing should be stable and affordable and expect these homes to go to people who genuinely need and deserve them, especially local Rathcoole people whom have grown up within the estate, to us they should take priority. We appreciate there is a points system but recent figures show (December 2023) there are 439 people on the waiting list for the area. This has no doubt risen within the last 5 months and with the recent demolition of Monkscoole house they are needed now more than ever.
The first phase all visited yesterday and have all accepted their tenancy offers. We will continue to lobby Apex in the pursuit of locals availing of the houses.
Housing is absolutely essential to human flourishing. Without stable shelter, it all falls apart 
