Patrick Gardiner, Managing Director, Coolsivna Construction Ltd; Clare County Council Chief Executive Pat Dowling and Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council, Cllr Tony O’Brien (FF). Photograph: Eamon Ward
A CONTRACT has this month been awarded for the construction of a €6m social housing scheme in Scariff.
Galway company, Coolsivna Construction Group this month signed the contract with Clare County Council for the construction of the eighteen home development.
Coolsivna have carried out a number of large-scale education projects within Co Clare including the construction of 24 new classrooms at St Finnachta’s NS in Sixmilebridge in 2016 and more recently the €12.5m upgrade of Ennis Community College.
Following the collapse of Keating Construction, the Galway firm took over the construction of the County Library in Ennis after signing a €8.7m contract with the County Council in May 2022.
They were also the appointed contractor for the Baile na mBan social housing development on Ballard Road in Miltown Malbay. With an approved budget of €5.6m, it consisted of 27 social housing units provided through a direct build scheme by Clare County Council.
Having received the Scariff contract, a spokesperson for the company said they were “delighted” and added, “We look forward to working with all involved”. ‘Droichead Nua’ will be located on the Feakle Road in Ballyminoge, Scariff.
Fourteen apartments, twelve of which will have two bedrooms will make up the development which will also have two semi-detached, two-storey, three-bedroom houses, with adaptations.
Construction of the Scariff scheme had been due to commence before Christmas however the County Council experienced a hiccup in the form of “post-tender administration” according to Director of Services, Anne Haugh.
This two-month delay has resulted in the targeted completion date moving back from the first quarter of 2024 to the third quarter of next year.
