Wexford Housing: 48 Social Homes Open in New Ross and Affordable Homes From €225,000 Launch at The Dairy Fields

48 Homes at Plás Fhearann Hiúéid, New Ross

Clúid Housing and Wexford County Council officially opened 48 new social homes at Plás Fhearann Hiúéid, Hewitsland, New Ross. They include two and three-bedroom houses and one-bedroom age-friendly bungalows.

The homes give secure, long-term tenancies to individuals and families on the council's housing list.

Speaking at the opening, the council's Chief Executive said Wexford County Council was "delighted to work with our partners Clúid in the delivery of 48 new social homes in New Ross", and that housing "remains the number one priority for Wexford County Council".

The Dairy Fields, Ferrybank

Minister for Housing James Browne launched Wexford's latest affordable housing scheme at The Dairy Fields in Ferrybank, with homes priced from €225,000.

An information evening took place on 16 September at Whites of Wexford, and applications open on 28 September. Full details are on Wexford County Council's website.

Ferrybank is right across the River Suir from Waterford city, so the scheme serves people who work on both sides of the county border.

Social and Affordable Homes Side by Side

This autumn in Wexford shows both parts of council housing working together. Social homes serve people on the housing list. Affordable purchase homes help working households who earn too much for social housing but still struggle to buy on the open market.

The age-friendly bungalows in New Ross also let older residents move to a smaller home in their own town. That can free up larger family homes for others.

How to Get Involved

If you're interested in The Dairy Fields, applications open on 28 September through Wexford County Council. Social housing is allocated through the council's housing list, and anyone who thinks they may qualify should contact the housing section.

Two Schemes, Two Different Housing Needs

The New Ross opening and the Ferrybank launch should not be treated as interchangeable. Plás Fhearann Hiúéid is already providing secure tenancies to households selected through the council's social housing system. The Dairy Fields is an affordable purchase opportunity that requires eligible buyers to apply, arrange finance and complete a purchase. Reporting the two together shows the breadth of the council's work, but keeping their rules distinct is essential for readers deciding whether either route applies to them.

The mix at Hewitsland is particularly practical. Two and three-bedroom houses respond to family need, while the one-bedroom age-friendly bungalows provide an option for older people or households who require a more manageable home. Age-friendly housing works best when design and location support independence: level access, suitable internal layouts and proximity to everyday services all matter. When an older tenant can move locally into an appropriate home, a larger property may also become available for a family, improving the use of existing housing as well as adding new supply.

Ferrybank's position beside Waterford city gives the affordable scheme a wider relevance than the county boundary suggests. People organise their lives around jobs, schools, shops and transport, not administrative lines, and housing in the area can serve households connected with both south Wexford and Waterford. The key next step is the application process opening on 28 September. Prospective purchasers should use Wexford County Council's published criteria and price information, while the completed New Ross scheme can already be measured in the stability it provides to 48 households.

The official New Ross opening provided further detail on the completed homes. Ten of the 48 properties are one-bedroom age-friendly bungalows for people aged 55 and over, and all 48 had been allocated when the development opened. The Department of Housing contribution was reported at €4.3 million. Clúid said the scheme brought its Wexford portfolio to 408 homes, with another 136 in its pipeline in Gorey and Clonard. That wider pipeline shows the opening was part of continuing delivery rather than a single isolated handover.

Local-authority housing delivery is a chain rather than a single announcement. Land has to be identified, funding approved, designs completed, planning secured, contractors appointed and the finished homes allocated or sold under published rules. A scheme can therefore appear quiet for long periods even while technical work continues behind the scenes. The useful test is whether it has crossed a measurable delivery point: a signed contract, work on site, applications opening or keys being handed over. That is why the stage reached in this project matters more than a broad promise about future supply.

The tenure is important too. Social housing gives households on a council list a secure home linked to need. Starter Homes help eligible purchasers bridge the gap between their mortgage capacity and the market price, with the council retaining an equity share. Cost rental serves households who may not qualify for social housing but cannot comfortably meet private rents. Delivering those options together allows councils and their partners to serve different incomes without treating every housing problem as if it had the same answer.

For residents, quality is measured over decades. Energy performance affects monthly bills; accessible layouts determine whether somebody can remain at home as their needs change; and proximity to schools, shops, healthcare and public transport shapes daily life. The number of homes is the headline, but location, tenure and long-term management decide whether a development becomes a settled neighbourhood. Those are the practical details to watch as each scheme moves from an official announcement to occupied homes.