Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 3 June 2020
1206. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of public private partnership units included in the latest Rebuilding Ireland social housing update; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8960/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI assume the Deputy is referring to the Social Housing Public Private Partnership (PPP) Programme, which is being progressed by my Department in conjunction with the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA), in its role as procuring authority and financial advisor, as well as Dublin City Council and Cork County Council, as lead local authority and Sponsoring Agency for Bundles 1 and 2 respectively. I can confirm that to end Q4 2019, there were a total of 999 homes under construction at sites across 10 local authorities under this programme included in the Rebuilding Ireland Social Housing Update.
PPPs represent just one strand of the overall plan to accelerate the supply of social housing, which is the second pillar of Rebuilding Ireland: An Action Plan for Housing & Homelessness. The 999 homes referred to are being delivered using an availability based PPP model, in which a private sector company designs, builds, finances and maintains the social housing developments in return for a monthly unitary payment from the State. The terms of the agreement provide for a cessation of the unitary payment and that the homes be returned to the full ownership of the State after a period of 25 years.
The Department is currently in the initial stages of working with the NDFA and participating local autorities to progress Bundle 3 of the PPP programme. In total, it is intended to deliver up to 1,500 social housing units across the three bundles, and through investment with a capital value of €300 million.
