Funding announced for Ferns Grove garden in Dundalk

St John of God Housing Association is to receive funding from the Housing Finance Agency (HFA) for the redevelopment of the garden at Ferns Grove, a community home in Dundalk for residents with intellectual disabilities.

It is part of a €500,000 funding package announced by the HFA for 19 community-focused initiatives across 10 counties.
The funding - doubled from €250,000 in 2024 - will be provided through the HFA’s Social Investment Fund (SIF), which supports projects that enhance neighbourhoods, promote inclusion and improve quality of life in communities where HFA-funded homes are delivered.

The HFA, which provides loan financing to Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs), Local Authorities and Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) to support the delivery of social and affordable housing, established the SIF to complement housing developments with facilities and initiatives that strengthen the social and economic fabric of communities.

Announcing the funding awards, Housing Finance Agency CEO, Deirdre Collier, said: “The Social Investment Fund is designed to complement housing developments by providing facilities and initiatives that enrich residents’ quality of life.

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“We’re proud to back initiatives that promote wellbeing, encourage community engagement and support social inclusion, particularly for residents in specialist housing and under-represented groups.”

Commenting on the funding, Sara Blackmore from St. John of God Housing Association said: “We are over the moon to have been granted funding from the Housing Finance Agency Social Investment Fund.

“This funding will enable the residents of Ferns grove to make the most of their home environment. Their back garden will be transformed into a unique outdoor space that can be enjoyed all year round — a place for socialising, relaxing, and meeting their individual sensory needs."