School pupils help design dream homes for Knockloughrim and Gulladuff

School children from Knockloughrim PS and St Brigid's recently took part in the Housing Executive's '˜My Dream Home' competition.
By The Newsroom
Published 21st Mar 2016, 10:01 BST
Updated 21st Mar 2016, 10:09 BST
The Housing Executive's Area Manager, Michael Dallat, and Tenancy Sustainment Officer, Fionn Hughes, are pictured with the winner from St Brigids PS: Ellen McCormick.The Housing Executive's Area Manager, Michael Dallat, and Tenancy Sustainment Officer, Fionn Hughes, are pictured with the winner from St Brigids PS: Ellen McCormick.
The Housing Executive's Area Manager, Michael Dallat, and Tenancy Sustainment Officer, Fionn Hughes, are pictured with the winner from St Brigids PS: Ellen McCormick.

The competition was part of a programme of events to help decide if new social or affordable housing is needed in the Knockloughrim and Gulladuff areas.

For the competition the school children were given a drawing sheet plus a leaflet for their parent or guardian to encourage anyone in genuine housing need to come forward.

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Michael Dallat, the Housing Executive’s Area Manager for Mid-Ulster, explained: “We are encouraging anyone in housing need to register with us.

The Housing Executive's Area Manager, Michael Dallat, and Tenancy Sustainment Officer, Fionn Hughes, are pictured with the winner from Knockloughrim PS: Alena McKeown.The Housing Executive's Area Manager, Michael Dallat, and Tenancy Sustainment Officer, Fionn Hughes, are pictured with the winner from Knockloughrim PS: Alena McKeown.
The Housing Executive's Area Manager, Michael Dallat, and Tenancy Sustainment Officer, Fionn Hughes, are pictured with the winner from Knockloughrim PS: Alena McKeown.

“Often in rural areas people do not register as they feel they will have little chance of being housed in their local area.

“However, this leads to a situation where no new homes are ever provided because there is no apparent need.

“While we might not be able to provide all of the great features designed by the children like swimming pools, slides and game rooms, identifying that there is a need is the first step on the road to providing decent homes where they are needed.”

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The Housing Executive would encourage anyone in housing need in the Knockloughrim and Gulladuff areas to contact it on or before Friday 25 March 2016 by calling 028 3831 5870 or e-mail [email protected] quoting “LD Knockloughrim” / “LD Gulladuff” to register an interest.

The Housing Executive's Area Manager, Michael Dallat, and Tenancy Sustainment Officer, Fionn Hughes, are pictured with the winner from Knockloughrim PS: Alena McKeown.The Housing Executive's Area Manager, Michael Dallat, and Tenancy Sustainment Officer, Fionn Hughes, are pictured with the winner from Knockloughrim PS: Alena McKeown.
The Housing Executive's Area Manager, Michael Dallat, and Tenancy Sustainment Officer, Fionn Hughes, are pictured with the winner from Knockloughrim PS: Alena McKeown.

The Housing Executive would like to thank the pupils from Knockloughrim PS and St Brigid’s, and their teachers, for helping to organise the competition.

The standard was extremely high but the eventual winners were: Alena McKeown (Knockloughrim PS) and Ellen McCormick (St Brigid’s).