Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 15 February 2024
252. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if plans can be put in place to arrange for modular or chalet type wooden housing as a means of addressing the severe housing shortage with a view to reducing the dependence on high priced rental accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7376/24]
View answer254. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total number of houses provided by approved housing bodies, on a county-by-county basis, for suitably qualified applicants in each of the past three years to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7378/24]
View answer259. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of exclusively publicly owned sites in the various local authority areas throughout the country in which houses are being built or will be built in the near future for persons seeking local authority housing, affordable housing or serviced sites; the extent to which these might make positive impact on the housing market; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7383/24]
View answer260. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of houses allocated to each local authority throughout the country including County Kildare by way of Part 5 arising from private ongoing developments, the extent to which this has reduced numbers on waiting lists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7384/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 252, 254, 259 and 260 together.
Housing for All is the Government’s plan to increase the supply of housing to an average of 33,000 per year over the next decade. This includes the delivery of 90,000 social homes, 36,000 affordable purchase homes and 18,000 cost rental homes. 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. The Plans also include details of the locations and delivery streams for social housing schemes. The Plans have been published on the local authority’s own websites.
In relation to affordable housing, affordability is at the heart of Housing for All. Since its launch over 3,800 affordable homes have been delivered, supported by the Affordable Housing Fund, the Cost Rental Equity Loan, Project Tosaigh and the First Home Scheme. This momentum will continue as the pipeline of affordable housing delivery is developed and expanded by our delivery partners, including local authorities, AHBs, the LDA, and First Home.
Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) has been identified as a key measure to address the different housing needs in Ireland and methods to support the development of MMC in Ireland are set out in Housing for All.
MMC is the term used to describe a range of manufacturing and innovative construction alternatives to traditional construction, including modular construction. MMC has the potential to boost productivity, increase efficiency and improve sustainability in the construction sector. MMC techniques can speed up the delivery of construction projects by between 20% and 60%.
The coordination of activities to promote MMC adoption is being led by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE), through the inter-departmental MMC Leadership and Integration Group (established July 2022). This Group will ensure the integration and coordination of the various Government-supported MMC initiatives – to support innovation in the construction industry.
Such initiatives include:
• The Accelerated social housing delivery programme which uses MMC
• Publication of the Roadmap for increased adoption of MMC in Public Housing Delivery
• The ConstructInnovate Technology Centre
• The National Demonstration Park for MMC
• The National Construction Training Centre
• Training for industry, procurers and Building Control in MMC
• The establishment of the Timber in Construction Working Group, which, bringing together a range of industry expertise, will be tasked with examining conditions to increase the use of timber in construction.
Any person may lodge an application for permission to a planning authority in accordance with section 34 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended (the Act), for the construction of a house, which may be of modular construction. It is a matter for the relevant planning authority to consider each application on a case-by-case basis and to decide to whether to grant the permission, subject to or without conditions, or to refuse permission.
In making their decision, planning authorities shall have regard to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area, the policies of Government, Ministerial Guidelines and any submissions or observations received on the application during the public participation process in accordance with section 34 of the Act.
Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000 requires private developers to ensure that a specified percentage of land zoned for residential and other uses is reserved for social and affordable housing. Local authorities negotiate Part V agreements with the developer in line with a range of guidelines and supports aimed at assisting them in maximising the benefits of Part V in the context of its housing needs. Local authorities have a range of options available when negotiating with developers including the transfer of land, the building and transfer of houses, the transfer of houses off-site, granting of a lease of houses, or a combination of these. Subject to the legislative provisions, local authorities are free to decide how the 20% Part V contribution is broken down in terms of social and affordable housing (with a minimum 10% social housing) and by dwelling type. This is done in line with the local authorities housing need as identified in its Housing Strategy made as part of its Development Plan. Part V negotiations are solely a matter for the relevant local authority operating within the Guidelines.
My Department publishes comprehensive programme level statistics on a quarterly basis on social housing delivery activity by local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) in each local authority, including Part V delivery. Data for affordable housing delivery is published on a quarterly basis, similar to social housing delivery This data is available to the end of Quarter 3 2023 and is published on the statistics page of my Department’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/6d316-local-authority-housing-scheme-statistics/?referrer=http://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/social-housing/local-authority-housing-scheme-statistics
Local Authorities are in the process of systematically collating information on delivery of social, affordable purchase and cost rental homes in their administrative areas, including returns for AHBs and the LDA, for Quarter 4 2023. This data is currently being verified and will be published in due course.
