NEW homes are coming to Dunmanway and Ballineen, thanks to volunteer efforts to help address the housing crisis.

Volunteers at St Vincent de Paul (SVP) have been working hard to renovate a number of properties with the help of donations, council grants and funding.

The charity currently owns eight houses in Dunmanway and 14 in Ballineen. In addition, two homes in Ballineen are currently being retrofitted with an air-to-water system, soon to be ready for new tenants.

Another two new homes will be available at St Vincent’s Park in Dunmanway early next year. The SVP committee will soon accept applications from a new uptake of tenants.

Teddy Moloney, who joined St Vincent de Paul after retiring four years ago, said: ‘I want to let people know about the work we do in the community and also where the money they’re donating is going to.

‘With this project, we’re helping to address the housing shortage and are also helping people who are on the council’s homeless list. In the past, we have had people who live in really bad conditions and we are happy to help them. We don’t take families but we do get partners who move into our homes.’

A local contractor is assisting SVP with the work on the houses, including electrical and plumbing work.

In the process of retrofitting some of the homes, fireplaces and chimneys were blocked off.

Retrofitting a house with an air-to-water heat pump replaces traditional heating by extracting heat from outside air to warm water for heating and domestic use.

This system typically uses less energy than conventional heating, with efficiency influenced by factors like insulation and ventilation.

In addition to providing housing, the St Vincent de Paul conference in Dunmanway also helps local families by collecting donations like toys, books and games.

Their charity shop at The Square funds the charity’s support work and is open Tuesday to Saturday.

National SVP fundraising also helps with local efforts such as education grants and social welfare aid.

The history of St Vincent de Paul in Dunmanway goes back to the 19th century and is closely linked to St Mary’s Convent, which opened in the town in 1889.

Call 086 029 5217 to find out more about the housing project and the tenant application process for the renovated homes.