There have been more than 3,200 applications for 46 apartments that are being offered at discounted rents at Google’s Bolands Mills Quarter in Dublin.
Just 24% of the applicants have met the eligibility requirements and 44% were deemed ineligible for not meeting the specified criteria.
The remaining applicants have until 5pm this evening to finalise their submissions.
When the application window closes this evening, all qualifying applicants will be included in a lottery.
The apartments were launched two weeks ago and are for key workers such as gardaí, nurses and teachers.
Applicants must also have a link to the local area and meet eligibility criteria around affordability, household size, and maximum income thresholds.
The apartments are being offered with rents that are up to 36% below market rate.
35 two-bed apartments are available at monthly rents of €1,710, ten three-bed apartments are €1,850 a month, and one large three-bed apartment is €2,100 a month.
Clúid, the not-for-profit housing association, was selected by Google after a competitive tender process to lease and manage all 46 apartments in the development.
“Due to the high number of applicants relative to the available homes, we will conduct a lottery to ensure a fair selection process,” said John Cotterell, Head of Housing at Clúid Housing.
“The lottery is managed by an external agency, ensuring a full audit trail for transparency. If an application is successful, the applicant will have 72 hours to upload the necessary documents and complete the application process, so we encourage those eligible to get their paperwork in order,” Mr Cotterell said.
Google has transferred the properties to Clúid on a 25-year lease in exchange for a small nominal fee.
The rents collected will be retained by Clúid to fund the management of the properties.
The homes are located in a renovated heritage building and a newly constructed building on Barrow Street, Dublin 4.
Google bought Bolands Mills in 2018.
The complex and surrounding area have major historical significance.
During the 1916 Easter Rising, the buildings were occupied by rebel forces.
The nearby Boland’s Bakery, which went on to become the Treasury Building, was the headquarters of the 3rd Battalion of Irish Volunteers under Éamon de Valera.
In September 2023, Google opened the first phase of its Bolands Mills development.
The historic Flour Mills building at the complex has been restored and adapted into a dedicated collaboration space for Google.
