Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 July 2020
417. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if a progress report will be provided on the cost rental project at Enniskerry Road, County Wicklow; the estimated rental cost of each on-site unit; the status of the roll out of further cost rental projects nationwide; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15531/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs confirmed in the Programme for Government 'Our Shared Future', this Government is committed to the introduction of Cost Rental housing in Ireland.
Ireland's first Cost Rental development is currently under construction at Enniskerry Road, Stepaside, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown. The project is being undertaken by two Approved Housing Bodies, Tuath and Respond, with the assistance of DLR County Council. The mixed-tenure development comprises 50 Cost Rental homes alongside 105 social housing homes. Delivery of the Cost Rental homes is being supported by zero-cost land supplied by the Housing Agency, an infrastructure grant from my Department's Serviced Site Fund, and debt financing from the Housing Finance Agency. Construction began in July 2019 with delivery scheduled for Q3 2021, pre-Covid.
A second pilot project, sponsored by my Department is under development for a site at Emmet Road, Inchicore (the former St Michael’s Estate). The project is being led by Dublin City Council. The proposal is for DCC to construct 375 Cost Rental units alongside 109 social housing units. A Development Framework Plan has been completed and DCC has recently appointed an architect-led integrated design team to progress the project through the planning and construction phases.
Another proposed Cost Rental development, at Shanganagh Castle, Shankill, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, where DLR County Council is working in partnership with the Land Development Agency to develop the Council-owned site. On Monday, 13th July, planning permission was confirmed for 597 homes on the site which it is intended will comprise 35% social homes, 15% affordable purchase homes and 51% cost rental homes. While the final cost of rents will vary according to the ultimate cost of provision of the homes, the LDA and DLR County Council are targeting rents which will achieve a significant discount on market rents in the area.
In addition to the project at Shanganagh, the Land Development Agency is examining the potential to deliver Cost Rental homes at scale from its initial portfolio of sites and the broader State land bank. This includes sites such as the former Central Mental Hospital in Dundrum
