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Housing Data

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 November 2018

Tuesday, 6 November 2018

Questions (1169, 1170)

Darragh O'Brien

Question:

1169. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number and name of local authorities that were contacted by and responded to the circular that was sent from his Department requesting bids on the serviced site fund; the number and name of local authorities that did not respond; the number of affordable homes that will be built in each of the local authorities that responded; the number of affordable homes that are possible in the short-term under this scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44915/18]

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Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

1170. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if a developer buys zoned, serviced, urban, privately owned land and is prepared to build affordable houses on it, if they will benefit from the €50,000 grant; if not, if this grant applies only to county council owned land; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44920/18]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1169 and 1170 together.

In order to deliver affordable homes, in the areas of the country most affected by a lack of affordable housing supply, the Government has committed €310 million, under the Serviced Sites Fund (SSF), as part of Budget 2019. The funding is available for key facilitating infrastructure, on local authority sites, to support the provision of affordable homes to purchase or rent.

The Exchequer contribution is €275 million with €35 million to be contributed by local authorities. In 2019 funding of €100 million will be available under the Fund, with a further €142 million in 2020, and €68 million in 2021.

A first call for proposals under the Fund issued to eleven local authorities, where the greatest affordability issues exist: the four Dublin local authorities; Kildare, Meath, Wicklow, Louth and Cork County Councils and Cork and Galway City Councils. Fifteen proposals were received from nine of the eleven local authorities targeted under this first call.

The proposals are currently being assessed and I expect to make an announcement of the first successful bids shortly, together with details of the number of affordable homes to be supported. While South Dublin and Louth County Councils did not make applications under the first call, further calls for proposals will be made, with a second call to be initiated shortly, and it will be open to the Councils to submit applications at that stage, if they consider it appropriate.

Once the funding is awarded and the infrastructure is provided, I expect delivery of affordable homes from 2019 onwards. Separately, all local authorities are now carrying out an economic assessment of the requirement for affordable housing in their area, and the authorities’ capacity to deliver housing at affordable prices from their sites.

Based on this analysis further local authorities may be considered for funding under the SSF.

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