The promoters of the 24 apartment project are Kildare Co Council and Sophia Housing Association Ltd, an approved housing body which provides homes for people who have experienced homelessness.
The project has an estimated construction value of €2.6m, according to the Construction Information Ireland database.
St John's Convent was home to the Sisters of Mercy until they departed the town in 2017.
Sophia is one of the largest providers of supported housing in Limerick and in Cork it recently opened a number of new homes. It also provides supported housing in Clare, Kilkenny, Laois, Cork, and Sligo.
A Part 8 planning application for the project was submitted by Kildare County Council.
The demolition of the former Convent has been approved.
The plans include the construction of 24 residential units of one-bedroom two-bedroom sizes in two blocks of 2-storey height.
There will also be 37 long-stay secure bicycle parking spaces and 12 short-stay bicycle parking spaces.
A public open space and a communal open space are also in the plans.
A new site entrance, access road, footpaths and public lighting are included in the designs.