Calls for 180 homes and a women's refuge centre to be constructed at St Raphael's in Celbridge

Kildare North constituency councillor Brendan Young has called on the council to advise the management at the St Raphael's site in Celbridge to develop 180 new housing units that includes a refuge zone for women.

Speaking to KildareNow, Cllr Young outlined how planners have indicated that there is the possibility of developing 100 housing units on the 28 acre site that is owned by the St John of God charity, but he feels that there is the potential for a further 100 units to be constructed through a mixture of houses and apartments.

The Independent councillor has suggested that 10 per cent of the new units should be specifically designed to cater for elderly people, with adjustable level worktops and remote control activated windows among the features of such homes. He is also hoping that four family units can be designed specifically for the use of a women's refuge centre, as there is currently no such service in north Kildare.

While Cllr Young admits that such plans will ultimately be decided further down the line as St John of God are still de-congregating the residence, he outlined how it is important to have some framework in place.