Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 14 November 2018
120. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if he met with officials from Fingal County Council regarding the roll-out of affordable housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46903/18]
View answerThe development of publicly owned residential lands for social and affordable housing is a top priority for this Government, particularly, in Dublin and other large urban areas, where housing access and affordability pressures are greatest. My Department is working with all local authorities, including Fingal County Council, in order to identify suitable sites to progress social and affordable housing projects.
In order to support local authorities further to prepare their sites for affordable housing, the Government recently committed, under Budget 2019 to provide €310 million under the Serviced Sites Fund (SSF) over the period 2019 to 2021. The funding is available for key facilitating infrastructure, on local authority sites, to support the provision of affordable homes to purchase or rent.
A first call for proposals under the Fund issued to 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 local authorities targeted under this first call and I expect to announce funding decisions in relation to these applications shortly. I expect infrastructure works on approved projects to begin as soon as possible thereafter and delivery of affordable homes from late 2019/early 2020 onwards.
My Department hosted a workshop for local authorities last week to discuss affordable housing issues. Further bilateral engagement between local authorities and my Department will now follow with a view to progressing further social and affordable projects on council lands.
Finally, the new Land Development Agency (LDA) will contribute significantly to the delivery of affordable housing. All of the State land developed by the LDA will include 40% social and affordable homes to purchase or rent and I understand that the LDA has also engaged directly with Fingal County Council concerning such sites in Fingal.
