Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 July 2020
294. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if he is examining the possibility of leasing privately-owned properties for up to 100 years for the purpose of social housing delivery; and the analysis being used in assessing such a scheme whether produced by his Department, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, the Department of Finance or the National Development Finance Agency. [16717/20]
View answerThe objective of Government is to focus strongly on new build, and in particular local authority-led new build activity. Delivering the necessary supply of social homes, however, requires a multi-faceted approach, harnessing capacity and delivery from all available channels including leasing. A traditional construction programme obviously requires significant year-on-year capital expenditure. Leasing is flexible, adaptable and can secure homes where local authorities do not have lands available. Leasing contributes to maximising delivery of all social housing.
My Department will use the leasing schemes currently in operation, in conjunction with our partners in local authorities and the Approved Housing Body sector, to continue to deliver homes through this mechanism, in addition to prioritising their build programmes. The terms of the leases are kept under review. There are currently no private leases in operation with terms in excess of 25 years.
