Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 May 2020
1336. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the status of the delivery of affordable homes to rent and buy in the Poolbeg and Clonburris strategic development zones, SDZs; the details of the financing of the schemes; and if the financing of the schemes will deliver affordable homes to purchase at less than €250,000 and affordable homes to rent at less than €900 per month. [5854/20]
View answerDelivery of more affordable homes to rent or buy is a priority for the Government. My Department has developed a range of measures to assist local authorities to provide homes of this nature, which are being utilised at the two sites referred to by the Deputy.
The regeneration of Poolbeg West is the next logical step in transforming the Docklands area, given its strategic location east of Grand Canal Dock, with close proximity to important bridge connections to Dublin Port and North Lotts. The extent of vacant brownfield land available is significant, at 34 hectares.
The Poolbeg West Strategic Development Zone (SDZ) has the potential to deliver up to 3,500 homes in close proximity to the city centre. To improve access to this strategically important site, €15.75 million of funding under the Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund has already been allocated, which includes €11.81m from my Department. The SDZ planning scheme requires the delivery of 15% homes for social and affordable housing purposes, which is in addition to the statutory 10% under Part V arrangements.
In relation to the wider activation of these lands, it is understood that NAMA is currently undertaking a process to select a preferred bidder to develop the lands in the SDZ scheme area. My Department remains committed to working with Dublin City Council, any relevant Approved Housing Bodies and either the receiver and/or developers of the SDZ area in order to secure additional social and affordable housing from this site over and above Part V obligations and of the order of magnitude laid out in the adopted planning scheme. This will be subject to agreement on all the normal and relevant terms, including value for money aspects.
In relation to the Clonburris SDZ, which has the capacity to provide up to 11,000 homes, approved funding under LIHAF is being made available for infrastructure to support the delivery of over 1,000 homes in the first phase of activity. While South Dublin County Council has confirmed that a development agreement has not yet been completed regarding this housing provision, by leveraging the value of the LIHAF infrastructure, a significant number of the homes delivered will be available at prices below market value.
In addition, funding under the Serviced Sites Fund (SSF) has been approved to support the Council's plans to deliver a further 90 social and 133 homes for purchase under the affordable purchase scheme (although it is anticipated that the number of affordable homes may increase as the project develops). These homes will be sold at rates which are below open market values and for which South Dublin County Council has estimated a price range of €253,000 to €263,000. At these prices, using the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan, a couple with a joint income in the region of €45,000 would be in a position to buy such a home.
The Council has indicated that a development partnership between the site owners and the Council will see a detailed design for the full site finalised later this year.
