Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 July 2018
946. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the parameters of affordable homes further to his statement (details supplied); the way in which affordable is defined; the persons that will be eligible for these homes; the way in which the allocation of the homes will be operated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30731/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraWhile there is no universally agreed, ideal price/rent to income ratio or minimum residual income requirement, there is general agreement that lower-income households in particular should not be paying more than roughly one third of their disposable income on housing costs.
As Minister, I have been clear that we also need to address issues of housing affordability, recognising the pressures that exist for low- to middle-income households, particularly in Dublin and certain other of our main urban centres. Recognising that people want a choice of affordable purchase and rental, depending on their stage of life and circumstances, a range of initiatives are being progressed, targeting the delivery of more affordable homes to households generally with maximum income of €50,000 for single applicants and €75,000 for joint applicants.
In order to underpin progress in this area, I have now commenced the relevant provisions of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009, the effect of which is to place the new scheme for affordable purchase on a statutory footing. The associated detailed regulations and guidance are close to finalisation in consultation with the Housing Agency and local authorities.
An allocation scheme (of priority) will be developed in local authorities, agreed by the elected members, in accordance with principles and qualifying parameters set out in the Regulations.
I am also determined that cost rental homes become a major part of our rental landscape in the future. It is clear that there is a gap between social housing and the rental market that needs to be filled, making a sustainable impact on housing affordability, national competitiveness, and the attractiveness of our main urban centres as places to live and work.
The Housing Agency, Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council and a number of Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) have been working to get our first cost rental pilot, at Enniskerry Road, ready for tenders to issue shortly. In parallel, Dublin City Council, my Department and the National Development Finance Agency are undertaking detailed modelling and financial appraisal on a major site, at St. Michael’s Estate in Inchicore, to assess its suitability for a significant cost rental development. The work of that multi-disciplinary team is progressing well and should be concluded shortly.
