Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 28 September 2022
12. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of serviced sites that are available in towns and villages in County Carlow for the local authority in Carlow to implement the ready-to-build scheme for potential purchasers for the building by the purchaser of a principal private residence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47093/22]
View answerOn 21 September, Minister O'Brien launched the Ready to Build Scheme as part of the Croí Cónaithe (Towns) Fund. Under this scheme, local authorities will make serviced sites in towns and villages available at a discounted rate to individual purchasers who will self-build their own home and intend to live in it as their principal private residence.
It is intended that the local authority will either supply existing sites in their control or purchase sites and make them available for development by providing services and access to the sites concerned.
The level of discount to the individual will depend on the level of servicing cost incurred by the local authority before the sale of the site but will not exceed €30,000. The amount of such discount will be reflected in the sale price of the site to the purchaser.
All available sites will be advertised on the relevant local authority’s website and/or in relevant local publications along with a closing date for receipt of applications.
As the scheme has just been launched, each local authority has been asked to assess suitable sites for the scheme. Carlow County Council have indicated that they currently have seven sites that could be made available under the Ready to Build Scheme, with a survey to be carried out over the coming weeks to ascertain if there are other potential sites. In addition, each local authority has also been asked to collect data from the outset in order to inform the ongoing review of this scheme.
