Sinn Féin TD hits out at Simon Harris over €40m Wicklow social housing plan
The Wicklow PeopleSinn Féin TD for Wicklow John Brady has hit out at the government’s handling of a west Wicklow housing project, even as he welcomed last week’s confirmation of €40 million in funding to finally deliver 106 homes at Burgage More in Blessington.
While the long-overdue investment is being hailed as a major milestone for the region, Deputy Brady raised serious concerns regarding the role of Tánaiste Simon Harris and the government in the project’s troubled history. The development, which includes 78 houses and 28 duplex units, was originally part of a public-private partnership (PPP) model that collapsed last year, leading to further delays for families in west Wicklow.
Deputy Brady argued that the government’s sudden reversal on the PPP strategy confirms long-standing flaws in the system.
“Any investment that will finally see these 106 much-needed homes delivered in Blessington is to be welcomed,” he said.
“Families in west Wicklow have waited far too long, and they deserve certainty that these homes will now be built without further delay.
“However, it is a bit rich for Simon Harris to be patting himself on the back making this announcement, when it was his government that pulled the plug on the PPP project last year and set any development at the site back significantly.
“The irony is that I had long warned that the PPP model was not the solution, and does not represent value for money for the taxpayer.
“While the government, having insisted on PPPs for years, suddenly reversed course, acknowledging the flaws in the very system they defended and promoted, and after five long years of planning, their decision threw the development into chaos and created huge uncertainty.
“In the meantime, precious time has been lost.”
Despite the political friction, Wicklow County Council has now been granted final approval to proceed with the €40 million development as a direct-build project. This method allows the council to maintain greater control over the construction timeline and the long-term management of the assets.
In addition to the much-needed social homes, the site at Burgage More is set to deliver vital community infrastructure including a new 200sqm two-storey crèche to support local families, significant road realignments on Burgage More Road, aimed at improving traffic flow and safety for residents.
The installation of new pedestrian footpaths to integrate the new neighbourhood with the existing Blessington town centre is also included among the proposals. A diverse range of one, two, and three-bedroom units have been designed to meet the specific demographic needs of the west Wicklow social housing list.
The focus now shifts to the tender process. Wicklow County Council is expected to appoint a contractor in the coming months, with spades in the ground anticipated by the second half of 2026.
Deputy Brady concluded by demanding a guarantee that there will be no further delays, stating that the people of Blessington "need homes built, and they need them now”.
The urgency highlighted by Deputy Brady is reflected in recent figures showing there are currently more than 4,000 people on the Wicklow social housing waiting list. Of those on the list, approximately 45pc require two-bedroom homes and 33pc require one-bedrooms.
This project is a critical piece of the Blessington Local Area Plan 2025–2031, intended to address the housing shortage.