New social housing development opened at former office building in Cork town

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has officially opened a new North Cork social housing development consisting of 13 homes and an administrative hub in a repurposed office building.

The refurbished social-rented homes in Mallow were provided by Focus Housing Association, the housing arm of Focus Ireland, and are located in the former offices of the Dairygold Argi division in the town centre.

The work was carried out with the support of Cork County Council and Cork City Council, the Housing Finance Agency, the Housing Agency, and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

Mr Martin described the renovated building as “a wonderful development” which will provide 13 homes for 16 people who have been on Cork County Council’s housing waiting list.

“It’s the re-use of what was an office building for Dairygold, now transformed into a residential area right in the heart of Mallow, where all of the services are available at hand,” he said.

“Access to housing is not just about a roof over your head, it is about building communities of people with secure homes, and access to amenities, to give them every opportunity to build a future for themselves and their families.” 

Pat Dennigan, CEO of Focus Ireland, said that not only would the project address housing needs, it would also serve as a new central hub for key support teams, assisting tenants across the southeast and southwest.

“We strongly support urban renewal projects and the upcycling of historic buildings, such as this one in Mallow,” he said.

“Not only do these initiatives promote environmental sustainability, but they also strengthen social networks, enhance inclusion for vulnerable groups, and help transform communities affected by housing challenges.” 

The project aligned with Focus Ireland’s Meascán Housing Model, Mr Dennigan said, which comes from the Irish word for ‘mixture’ and fosters an intentional social mix, bringing together tenants who may need support at different times alongside those who do not.

“Our research has shown that scatter-site housing, when paired with the right supports, reduces stigma, facilitates broader social integration, and ultimately helps build more resilient communities for the future,” he said.

Focus Ireland currently provides 1,701 homes nationwide through its housing arm, Focus Housing Association.

The new Mallow homes are part of 49 social housing units provided by Focus Ireland in the county as part of the total of 207 delivered for Cork city and county.

“We recognise that ending homelessness is not something we can achieve alone,” Mr Dennigan said.

“That’s why we continue to campaign and advocate for more effective Government action, using the expertise of our services and the lived experiences of those we support to drive meaningful policy and service improvements that change lives.”