Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 6 July 2023
55. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department might seek quotations from builders/developers for the provision of a specific number of public authority houses, aimed at filling gaps not currently being met for various reasons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33081/23]
View answerUnder Housing for All, the Government will deliver 47,600 new build social homes; 3,500 social homes through long-term leasing and 28,500 new affordable homes in the period 2022-2026. Housing for All is supported by an investment package of over €4bn per annum, through an overall combination of €12bn in direct Exchequer funding, €3.5bn in funding through the Land Development Agency and €5bn funding through the Housing Finance Agency.
Under Housing for All, each local authority was required to prepare a Housing Delivery Action Plan. This Plan sets out details of both social and affordable housing delivery as appropriate over the period 2022-2026, in line with targets set under Housing for All. In preparing the Plans, local authorities were required to include details of land available to deliver housing and details of land acquisition requirements. The Plans also include details of the locations and delivery streams for social housing schemes. The Plans have been published on local authority websites.
Local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) also engage with builders and developers on an ongoing basis in relation to opportunities for ‘turnkey projects’. The delivery of projects through such development agreements supports the delivery of housing in areas where there is a housing need. In particular the delivery of turnkey projects supports the delivery of housing in areas where a local authority or AHB may not have land immediately available to deliver construction projects.
My Department publishes the Social Housing Construction Status Report (CSR) which provides details of social housing developments and their location that have been completed, are under construction or are progressing through the various stages of the design and tender processes. The most recent publication was for Quarter 4 2022. All Construction Status Reports are available at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/cb885-social-housing-construction-projects-status-reports/.
