co-operative housing news · mustafa’s . story. as a co-operative, diversity among our membership...

Co-operative Housing News Spring 2019

Staff NewsIn staff news this quarter, we were happy to welcome Mark Bolger, our new Head of Finance to the CHI team. We wish Mark the best of luck in this role. We also wish to extend a warm welcome to Brendan

Kiernan, Project Manager, as well as Marc Casey,

Buildings Officer (Technical), and Gareth Gaughran,

Housing Officer, all of whom joined us in April.

Income Assessment Forms By now all members should have received an Income Assessment Form. Members who have not yet completed the form are

asked to complete and return immediately.

Development Update In development news, we were pleased to take a number of units in Birr, Carlow and Kilkenny into management in early 2019 and to welcome our new members. We also look forward to the completion of our

39-unit development on Richmond Road in Dublin

and our 72-unit development in Orchard Meadows,

Cherry Orchard in Dublin, as well as the delivery of

a number of new units in the Munster region over

the coming months.


ChildcareOur childcare team have had a busy few months, with a highlight including the ‘Dolly Parton Imagination Library’ Initiative, rolled out earlier this year in Tallaght in conjunction with the Childhood Development Initiative (CDI). This wonderful initiative allows children living in

West Tallaght, who are signed up to the scheme, to

receive a personalised book each month until they

reach the age of 5.

Children and parents from our Brookview childcare

service attended the launch of the initiative in Tallaght

Library on February 14th. One of the children from

the childcare service also participated in a launch of

the initiative at the Shamrock Rovers training grounds

with the captain of the club.

We are so proud of the children in the service, almost

all of whom have signed up!

Bring Home a BookAside from this initiative, our childcare services also

run ‘Bring Home a Book on Wednesday’ each week,

which encourages children and parents to enjoy a

bit of reading at home. This dedicated time allows

children to take some time out from the TV and

devices and contributes to positive wellbeing and

behaviours. Happy reading, folks!

Love EducationPre-school children in Island Key childcare service

attended a ‘Love Education’ event organised by the

Early Learning Initiative, National College of Ireland in

February in St. Laurence O’Toole’s. The hall was filled

with lots of exciting science and messy-play activities

for the children. Children in Island Key, along with

their parents, also attended the local library for World

Book Day to hear some stories and play some games.

Co-operative Housing News Spring 2019 3

Mustafa’s StoryAs a co-operative, diversity among our membership is very important to us. We are very proud to support members of a variety of nationalities in creating a home in Ireland. In this edition - meet Mustafa, a Syrian member who lives in Enniscorthy.

Hi, my name is MustafaI was born in Syria. I finished school in 1989. I am

married and have two beautiful children. I worked

as an International taxi driver between Syria and

Turkey. Back then, life was calm and simple.

But in 2011, a civil war started and what seemed to

be a week or month long conflict, turned out to be

nine years of blood being shed until now and only

God knows when it will stop.

We moved within Syrian territory for three years

searching for a safe place to live but without any luck

of finding it, because the whole country became a

wasteland. So, then we travelled to Turkey and stayed

there for six months. although we found safety, but

it was clear we weren’t welcome there. After that

we travelled to Lebanon. we found the same level of

welcoming, but we were forced to stay as it was our

best choice.

After two years of discrimination and hardship we

received a notice by the UN, that we were chosen

to travel to Ireland as a refugee. In 2017, we arrived

at Dublin airport. However, this time we felt a

warm welcoming that we haven’t experienced in

over a decade.

Then we received a house in Enniscorthy from

Co-operative Housing Ireland, and it was a big,

gorgeous house. The team treated us friendly and

provided us with all the services that we needed. we

greatly thank the co-operative, the kind people of

Ireland and their government.

.مرحبا انا اسمي مصطفى

ولدت يف سوريا، أنهيت دراستي الثانوية يف عام 1989. متزوج ولدي ولدان

جميالن. عملت كسائق تاكيس دويل بني سوريا وتركيا. يف ذلك الوقت ،

.كانت الحياة هادئة وبسيطة

لكن يف عام 2011 ، بدأت الحرب هناك وما بدا أنه مناوشات لن تدوم

سوى أسبوعٱ أواسبوعني ، تبني أنها امتدت لتسع سنوات من سفك لدماء

.االبرياء ، والله وحده يعلم متى ستنتهي

تنقلنا داخل األرايض السورية ملدة ثالث سنوات بحثًا عن مكان آمن

للعيش فيه ، ولكن دون أي حظ يف العثور عليه ، ألن البلد بأكمله تحول

.اىل ركام ودمار

لذا سافرنا إىل تركيا واقمنا هناك ملدة ستة أشهر. عىل الرغم من أننا وجدنا

األمان ، ولكن كان من الواضح أنه مل يكن مرحبٱ فينا هناك. بعد ذلك

سافرنا إىل لبنان. وجدنا نفس املستوى من عدم الرتحيب ، لكننا اضطررنا

.للبقاء الننا ال منتلك خيارٱ افضل

بعد عامني من التمييز واملشقة ، تلقينا إشعارًا من األمم املتحدة ، بأنه تم

.اختيارنا للسفر إىل أيرلندا كالجئيني

يف عام 2017 ، وصلنا إىل مطار دبلن. وحينها شعرنا بالرتحيب الحار الذي

.مل نشهده منذ أكرث من عرش سنوات

، Co-operative Housing Ireland ثم استلمنا منزالً عن طريق

وكان منزاًل كبريا وجميال. لقد عاملنا فريق

Co-operative Housing Ireland بشكل محرتم وقدم لنا جميع

الخدمات التي نحتاجها. نشكر جزيل الشكر الشعب األيرلندي الكريم

.وحكومته املوقرة


International Women’s DayWe were delighted to celebrate International Women’s Day on March 8th in our offices and childcare services across the country. This was a great opportunity to highlight the

contributions of women both among our staff and

members and in society as a whole. In our Brookview

Childcare service, children and parents celebrated the

day together, while our office in Dublin North held a

coffee morning for members.

Easter Eggs-citement!A number of eggs-cellent Easter and spring-related events have been taking place in Co-operative Housing Ireland estates and childcare services across Ireland. An Easter Fun Day was held in the Kilcronan

Communal Room on Saturday, April 20th. The day

was jam-packed with easter egg hunts, planting of

flowers, and arts and crafts.

Our Brookview Childcare Service also held an Easter

family morning on Friday April 12th, joined by a team

from Nore Valley Farm, Kilkenny. The families and

children all had a fantastic morning feeding and

petting the animals from the Farm!

Riverside in Dun Laoighaire also had a visit from

the Easter Bunny to their annual Easter egg hunt,

organised by Samantha McConville. A local co-

operative meeting has been arranged for early May

to organise a summer event.

Members in Auburn Lodge in Cabinteely are feeling

the spring fever with some flower-planting and fence-

painting underway. Two of our members, Louise Kelly

& Lisa Kinsella, are helping out with the planting.

Members in St. Finian’s, Lucan are also getting green

fingers, having been engaged recently in ongoing

meetings with the St. Finian’s Environmental group.

Vivienne Smith takes responsibility for the watering

of our flower stands. An annual clean-up day will be

scheduled over the summer, with treats in-store for

any children that get stuck in!

A fun day will also be held in Brookview Court,

Tallaght this summer – details on this will be

announced in due course.


Your Housing Officers Here at Co-operative Housing Ireland, we want to ensure that you have access to the information and support you need, when you need it. With that in mind, we wanted to remind you of who your local Housing Officer is and how you can get in touch with them.

Housing Officer: Estates & Areas: Contact Number:

George Best Co-operative: Dublin City

— South Earl St. — South Summer Street — Allingham St. — Newcourt — McCleans Court — Westcourt — Camac Crescent.

01 4201012

David CunninghamCo-operative: Dublin City

— Queen St/Blackhall — Portland Row — McDermott Apartments — Townsend St. — Island Key

01 4201012

Melissa Ferraz Co-operative: Dublin South

— Donomore — Drinagh — Kilcronan — Avonbeg — Maple Square

01 4662006

Sabrina Foley Co-operative: Dublin South

— Auburn — Riverside — Rockfield — Brookview — St. Finians.

01 4662006

Aisling O’CarrollCo-operative: Dublin North

— Greenlawns — Castlegrange Heights — Pinewood Green Court — Cardy Rock Court and Cardy Rock Avenue — Calderwood Court — Merville Court — St. Pauls Court — Deakin Court, Richmond Rd

01 8675470

Eimear Kiernan Co-operative: Dublin North

— Newtown — Craigie Court

01 8675470


Housing Officer: Estates & Areas: Contact Number:

Rachel Harford Co-operative: Dublin West

— Orchard Meadows — Weavers Wood — Cherry Orchard Court. — Avondale Park — Parslickstown Court

01 6403074

Maria ButlerCo-operative: South Leinster

— Enniscorthy — Carlow — Fruithill Manor, Graiguecullen, Co. Laois — Willow View, Castlebridge, Co. Wexford — Castlehyde Park, Rosbercon, Co. Kilkenny

053 9189034

Catriona AllenCo-operative: Munster

— Firgrove Charleville — Scarabh Kanturk — Hazelbrook Mallow — Castlepark Mallow — Shanowen Rathcormac — Crann Ard Fermoy — Fernwood Glanmire — The Mills Lismore — The Paddocks Waterford — Ashgrove Thurles — Fern Walk Kenmare — Innisfallen Kilarney — The Maples Kilarney — Parklands Tralee

021 4879010

Helena FinneganCo-operative: Munster

— Rooskagh Valley, Shanagarry, Co Cork — Kilmahon, Shanagarry, Co Cork — Lus an Ime, Cloyne, Co Cork — Radharc an Tuir, River Street, Cloyne, Co Cork — Maple Woods, Ballinacurra, Midleton, Co Cork — Fana na gCrann, Dungourney, Co Cork — Cooline, Ballyvolloon, Cobh, Co Cork, — Mayberry, Carrigaline, Co Cork — Fern Drive, Carrigaline, Co Cork — The Stables, Fern Close, Cedarwood, The Willows, Waterside – all in Castleheights, Carrigaline, Co Cork

— The Tannery, Convent Hill, Bandon, Co Cork — The Quadrants, Ballincollig, Co Cork — Clover Avenue, Ard Sionnach, Shanakiel, Cork City — Downview, Farranlea Road, Cork City

021 4879010

David Ryan Co-operative: Ralahine

— Casleconnell, Limerick — Fedamore, Limerick — Cois Teampaill, Newcastlewest, Limerick

061 529850

Alan Sheerins Co-operative: Connacht

— Tullamore, Offaly — Roscommon — Granaries, Banagher, Offaly — Ballisodare, Sligo — Cnoc na Si, Portumna, Galway — An Corran, Crinkle, Birr — Ros Ard, Athlone — Maigh Rua, Doughiska, Galway — St. Ciaran’s Park, Roscommon — Aisling, Ennis — Cluain Ros Leamhain, Roslevan, Ennis — Lios Anama, Sixmilebridge, Clare — Beal an Inbhir, Kilrush, Clare

091 454612


Handy hints for your home and neighbourhoodHome TipsBelow are a number of a handy hints that we’ve put together, that may be useful to you and your family in your CHI home and neighbourhood. • Consider taking out home contents’ insurance

for protection in the event of burglary, flooding

or fire damage.

• Ensure your fire blankets are mounted to your

wall in your kitchen and are not removed. This is a

recent requirement and applies to all CHI homes.

Agree a household escape plan for all those living

in your home in the event of a fire.

• If you have a dog, help keep your fellow members

from tripping over anything nasty and make sure

you pick up after them!

• The weather’s picking up a bit as we head into

summer, so have a glance at your gutters and

commit to cleaning them out twice a year –

once in spring/summer and once in the autumn.

• With improvements in the weather, it’s also

a good idea to air out your house! Especially

for those of you living in apartments, it’s so

important to ensure that you open your windows

at least once a day, even in winter. Using your

extractor fan is also hugely helpful in preventing

damp, mould and condensation.

Recycling TipsThere’s been a huge focus in the media recently on recycling and on what we can and can’t recycle. It’s getting confusing, so here’s a list of what you can recycle! It’s important that any item that you’re recycling is

clean and dry.

• Rigid plastics packaging such as: plastic drink

bottles, cleaning bottles, butter containers, yogurt

cartons, salad tubs, fruit and vegetable trays,

plastic milk cartons and soap or shampoo bottles.

Soft plastics such as cling film are not currently

collected for recycling in Ireland and should be

placed in your general waste bin.

• All tins and cans.

• Paper and cardboard, but as pizza boxes can often

be contaminated with food, they unfortunately

aren’t allowed.

To find out more about recycling in Ireland or to

download a printable list visit: recyclinglistireland.ie


Emergency TipsThere’s nothing worse than something going wrong in your home, and whether it be a leaky tap or something more serious, we want you to be able to get it fixed ASAP! Members can report repairs in the following ways:

• By telephone to the co-operative office.

• In writing by email or letter to the

co-operative office.

Four repair response categories exist:

1. Emergency An emergency is defined as something which could

not have been foreseen and which could cause danger

to member health and/or safety, or serious damage to

the property. When a repair request is deemed to be an

emergency, a same-day response is usually provided

by a Buildings Officer or contractor. As a priority, CHI

will ensure the property is satisfactory with regard to

health & safety, but further works may be required to

complete the repair. Where further works are required

it is expected, the repair should, in most cases, be

complete within 2-3 working days, depending on the

extent of the repair works in question.

2. Urgent A repair request is deemed to be urgent where the

issue is affecting the comfort and convenience of

the member. Where a repair request is deemed to

be urgent, a response from a Buildings Officer or a

contractor is provided within 2 working days, with

completion expected within 5 working days.

3. Routine A repair request is deemed to be routine where the

issue is not affecting the comfort and convenience of

the member. When a repair is deemed to be routine,

a response from a Buildings Officer or contractor is

provided within 28 working days.

4. Planned CHI may receive requests from local co-operative

committees or from individual members in relation to

repair and maintenance works required in common

areas. This request could be in relation to external

painting, window/door replacement etc. and may

affect several dwellings.

Where this situation arises, the local Customer Service

Team and the National Asset Manager are responsible

for investigating the request.

All requests should be made between 9am and

5pm, Monday to Friday, to your local office, but in an

emergency situation, which is anything which could

not have been foreseen and which could cause danger

to health, residents’ safety, or serious damage and

destruction of the property, you can call the emergency

line on 1890 444 888 outside normal office hours.

Co-operative Living TipsCo-operative living is all about co-operating and communicating with your neighbours, to make life that little bit brighter for everyone!Now and again, CHI receive queries from members

with regard to disagreements or misunderstandings

with other members in their area. While CHI will

always strive to ensure a positive environment for

all of our members and will always provide support,

sometimes it’s more appropriate to allow members

to resolve things themselves. We would always

encourage members to adopt an open, welcoming

approach to their neighbours. Even a quick hello in

the morning or taking a few minutes to stop and chat

can do wonders for a community. If you don’t do it

already, give it a go!


OutreachIrelandOver the last number of months, we have seen a surge in interest from groups seeking advice on setting up self-help, start-up housing co-operatives in Ireland.Since January, CHI has been in contact with 11 such

groups, which includes both a group of nurses and

a group of artists. We have also collaborated with a

number of other like-minded organisations including

Fórsa Trade Union, the Dublin Food Co-op and the

Dublin Brewing Co-op on a number of film screenings

of ‘A Silent Transformation’, a film on co-operatives in

Canada and we co-hosted a seminar on worker co-

operatives with the Society for Co-operative Studies in

Ireland in April in Liberty Hall, Dublin.

We look forward to hosting a number of similar events

throughout the year. Keep an eye on our (newly

revamped and fully accessible) website and Twitter

account for details of events! We have also continued

our close involvement in the Housing Alliance, which

comprises six of the largest Approved Housing Bodies

(AHBs) in Ireland.

Europe Our Policy and Communications Manager Fiona Dunkin also attended two days of Housing Europe Working Committee meetings in Brussels in February. Issues covered included employment and housing,

health and housing, Housing First, ghettoisation,

an update on legislation with regard to the EU

Structural Funds, the potential implications of EU state

aid laws for housing associations, the implementation

of an EU Directive on the reporting on non-financial

activities, energy efficiency, building codes and

the circular economy.

With regard to the issue of ghettoisation in particular,

many members were alarmed to hear of the potential

implications of a new ‘anti-ghettoisation’ law in

Denmark. Housing associations in Denmark are very

concerned that this piece of legislation is going to lead

to the unnecessary demolition of many social housing

units in the country.

In relation to discussion on EU state aid, a recent case

in Holland was discussed. As far back as 2002, the

Dutch government notified the European Commission

about a scheme under which State aid was given

to the ‘woningcorporaties’ housing associations,

which are tasked with acquiring, building and renting

of dwellings, primarily to economically deprived

individuals and to groups from socially deprived

background.

Following this, in 2005, the Commission sent a letter

to the Dutch authorities in which it expressed doubts

about the compatibility of this State aid scheme

with EU law. A number of exchanges have taken

place since then. However, in late 2018, the Court of

Justice of the European Union (CJEU) ruled that the

European Commission had the right to ask the Dutch

government to clarify the definition of the mission

of social housing providers. As a result, there are

increasing concerns that this ruling will lead to a more

dualist, residualised approach to social housing in

Holland, or, in other words, that social housing will

only be permitted to be made available to those on

lowest incomes.

A discussion also took place with regard to the

sale of social housing in Europe, and the views of

members on this. The majority of members expressed

opposition to the sale of social housing, on the basis

of the potential impact of such a policy on overall

social housing stock levels.

Overall, it was a worthwhile and interesting couple of

days, with plenty of useful discussion and exchange

from members across Europe.


Screening of ‘A Silent Transformation’ with the

Dublin Food Co-op’.

Screening of ‘A Silent Transformation’ with Forsa Trade Union.


co-operative housing news · mustafa’s . story. as a co-operative, diversity among our membership...

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