This is an excellent example of real collaboration to the benefit of the local community – Paul Hargaden, Regional Manager for Respond Housing.

We have to ensure our older relatives and friends do not become even more isolated in this new information age – Declan Dunne, Respond!

Loneliness and isolation have profound implications for the well-being of individuals, communities and society more generally.

A 130-home estate in Cork City will, by the end of the year, have 34 social housing units, delivered through Nama’s social housing “special purpose vehicle” working with Respond! housing.

Impressive development includes 21 new apartments at St John’s College, with a 10-bed group home and 36 new build one bed apartments overlooking the Folly, costing €12 million.

A moratorium on house repossessions is long overdue according to Fr Pat Cogan OFM otherwise housing demand will continue to outstrip supply.

There is a 36-month lead-in from a greenfield site to delivering a housing development. So we won't see houses coming though until 2019 or 2020.

Some of the graduates were unemployed while others worked for charities like Crosscare, Peter McVerry Trust, Age Action Ireland & the Simon Community.

€12m redevelopment includes 21 new apartments in the college, a 10-bed group home, and 36 one-bed apartments and a range of support services.