Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 13 July 2017
1260. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the extent to which serviced or serviceable lands, zoned or unzoned, have been identified by each of the local authorities in the greater Dublin area to facilitate a rapid build housing programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33658/17]
View answerMy Department is working closely with all local authorities in relation to increasing and accelerating the delivery of a range of social housing programmes and supports, including rapid build homes. There are currently over 500 rapid build units in various stages of delivery, including construction, and work is underway at advancing a further 500 units by the end of 2017, with another 500 units to be delivered in 2018.
There has been significant pressure to ramp-up rapid build delivery, which local authorities have been responding to positively. Of particular note has been the establishment of a framework of rapid build contractors by the Office of Government Procurement, which means that local authorities across the country can now run quicker procurement competitions and advance rapid build projects to site more efficiently and effectively.
The identification of lands which are serviced, serviceable, zoned or unzoned, is a matter for the local authority concerned who are best placed to understand the housing needs in their areas. However, a recent initiative which is of benefit to both local authorities and the general public is the Rebuilding Ireland Housing Land Map, which was published on 27 April 2017. The Map is a vital initial step in the new strategic approach to State land management and the datasets published on the map include details of over 700 local authority and Housing Agency-owned sites, totalling some 1,700 hectares, as well as 30 sites (covering about 200 hectares) owned by State or semi-State bodies. The map is available to view on the Rebuilding Ireland website at: http://rebuildingireland.ie/news/rebuilding-ireland-land-map/.
