Residents in Killeens blockade their estate to highlight their concerns about the status of 44 homes under construction

Residents at an estate in Killeens are staging a peaceful blockade of their estate this morning to highlight their concerns about the status of 44 homes currently under construction.

The Lios Cara Residents Committee say the homes have been purchased for social housing without residents being consulted.

Plans to build over 100 homes at Lios Cara were approved in 2004, however the estate was never completed due to the economic downturn.

In a statement to RedFM News, The Lios Cara Residents Committee say they learned in the past three weeks that the homes being constructed will all be used for social housing.

The statement goes on to say that residents are acutely aware that the country is in a housing crisis affecting all sectors of society and say they support social housing, affordable housing and private housing within the community.

They say the refusal of the developer to engage with them has forced them to take action.

The group say this mornings protest is not being carried out to block the delivery of housing, but to encourage the developer to engage in meaningful dialogue.

In a statement to RedFM News, the City Council says the housing development was acquired by the council and did not require Part 8 Planning approval, as planning permission was already granted.

Part 8 Planning approval includes the provision that public notice be given and allows for submissions from the public regarding the plan.

The Council say the development will provide much needed social housing to meet their target of over just over 3,900 homes up to 2026.