Construction is underway at the site of a new affordable housing development being delivered by The Land Development Agency and Dublin City Council.
James Browne TD, Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, joined John Coleman, Chief Executive of the Land Development Agency (LDA) and Richard Shakespeare, Chief Executive of Dublin City Council (DCC) today at the official launch of construction work at Donore Project in Dublin 8.
The landmark development in Dublin’s South Inner City is being delivered on the former St. Teresa’s Gardens site, located off Donore Avenue and adjacent to the historic Liberties area of Dublin.
It includes a total of 542 new homes consisting of 389 cost-rental and 153 social housing apartments.
The site covers an area of 1.74 hectares (4.3 acres) and the new homes will be located next to Dublin City Council’s own development of 54 social homes on Margaret Kennedy Road which were also built on part of the former St. Teresa’s Gardens land.
The LDA and DCC have worked together to develop a mix of accommodation types, comprising 233 one-bedroom apartments, 265 two-bedroom apartments and 44 three-bedroom apartments.
Enabling works on the site began in Autumn 2024 with the main contract executed in February 2025. The construction work is being undertaken by John Paul Construction and the first homes are due to be completed in early 2027.
Once complete, the Donore Project will include a new creche, community spaces, a café/retail unit, mobility hub and the new home for the Donore Boxing Club. Construction on a multipurpose municipal sports pitch is to follow the completion of the new homes.
The project is part of a comprehensive and ongoing plan to create a sustainable and integrated new community in the area. In tandem with semi-private open spaces for residents, it will deliver public open spaces and recreational facilities designed to complement and connect neighbouring developments.
The Donore Project Park will sit at the heart of the development, opening new routes between Donore Avenue, South Circular Road and Cork Street. The public realm is designed to encourage active lifestyles, to support resident wellbeing and provide urban greening.
Lord Mayor of Dublin Emma Blain said:
“I’m delighted that this excellent affordable and social housing development in the heart of Dublin’s South Inner City has now broken ground. This type and level of high-quality housing is much needed, and I’m delighted that it will also deliver new amenities and facilities for the local community and surrounding area. I would like to congratulate the LDA and Dublin City Council for their work so far and I look forward to the completion of what will be a superb addition to a great part of Dublin.”
James Browne, Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage said:
“I am very happy to be here to mark the official launch of Donore Project and I’m particularly pleased that this excellent development will deliver 542 new affordable and social homes in such a central city centre location. It is great to see this part of Dublin benefitting from such a transformative project. The LDA is the State’s affordable housing delivery body and the Government, through Housing for All, has ensured it has the necessary resources to fulfil its remit and to deliver at scale, as it is doing here. I would like to congratulate the LDA and Dublin City Council for partnering on this project and I look forward to returning soon for the official opening.”
John Coleman, Chief Executive of the Land Development Agency said:
“This is a major development for the LDA, and I’m pleased to see construction is underway and progressing quickly. Donore Project is a flagship development for us as it demonstrates our ability to deliver housing on State-owned land and our ambition to create not just new homes, but new liveable, sustainable and integrated communities that can cater for the needs of families, older people and renters and can make a real difference to the lives of people living and working in Dublin 8. The LDA is working with Dublin City Council on a number of housing projects of scale, and I would like to thank everyone at the local authority for their ongoing support and collaboration. I would also like to thank the Minister and the Government for providing the funding required to design, plan and ultimately build housing developments of this scale.”
Richard Shakespeare, Chief Executive of Dublin City Council, said:
“This is an important housing development for Dublin City Council, and I’m thrilled to mark its official launch. From the very beginning of this process, we have engaged extensively with local residents and businesses, and we are confident that once completed, the Donore Project will add significantly to what is an already thriving community. It’s great that our work with the LDA will deliver a high number of affordable and social homes, but I’m also very pleased that we will create new public spaces and recreational areas. I know the local community has been seeking new sports and community facilities and it’s fantastic that we are in a position now to provide a new pitch and a new home for Donore Boxing Club. I would like to thank the LDA for working with us on this and several other housing projects.”
Cllr. Deirdre Heney, Chair of Dublin City Council Housing SPC added:
“I’m really pleased to see the official launch of the Donore Project. This excellent development, a collaboration between Dublin City Council and the LDA, will not only deliver 542 high quality social and affordable homes, but will also help benefit communities in South Dublin Inner City. The creation of new public spaces and recreational areas, as well as the provision of a new home for the boxing club and a new sports pitch, will help build and sustain an already thriving community. I would like to thank the local residents and businesses for their support, and the LDA for working with Dublin City Council to help deliver this project.”
The LDA is the State’s affordable housing delivery body. It is in the process of delivering more than 19,000 homes on State-owned or acquired land and over 8,000 through homebuilder partnerships as part of the Government’s Project Tosaigh initiative.
In addition to the Donore Project, the LDA and Dublin City Council (DCC) are partnering on a number of projects in which the LDA is delivering affordable and social housing on land owned by the local authority.
This includes the development of 1,100 homes at Cherry Orchard Point in west Dublin and 146 homes at An tSrúill on the Cromcastle Road in Coolock. The LDA and DCC are also planning to deliver 382 new homes at Bluebell Waterways in Dublin 12.