A 12 unit social housing development at Killeen was part of a number of projects given the green light today with the allocation by the Government of €6.3m for Kerry.

Overall, it will deliver 28 houses in areas such as Tralee, Killarney and Lixnaw and permit the building of 12 additional single rural dwellings throughout the county. The new construction units are expected to be in place by 2017.

The move is part of a construction kick-off  announced by Labour’s Environment Minister Alan Kelly encompassing the first major direct build social housing programme  which gave the green light to over 100 social housing projects throughout the country today.

“This is the first major house-building programme in Kerry for many years and the first phase of the Government’s Social Housing Strategy . €312 million has been approved by Minister Kelly which will see an additional 1700 social housing units come on stream by 2017 with an estimated 3000 additional jobs in construction created,” said Kerry North/West Limerick Labour Deputy Arthur J Spring.

Projects that have been given the green light today include: 12 Units in The Park, Killarney (Phase 2), four Units in Lixnaw and 12 Units in Killeen, Tralee.

“The news will create construction jobs throughout the county. We have an excellent skill-base of builders in our local areas and many of them are seeking work at the moment so this should provide a welcome boost,” said Deputy Spring.