Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 October 2020
159. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will publish a quarterly serviced sites fund accommodation construction pipeline report similar to that currently produced for social housing to enable the Houses of the Oireachtas to track the progress in the delivery of affordable accommodation to rent and buy under the fund. [29870/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Serviced Sites Fund (SSF) grant funds the cost of key enabling infrastructure requirements that will help unlock publicly-owned lands for the delivery thereafter of affordable homes to buy or rent.
Where an affordability challenge has been identified by a local authority together with a viability to deliver more affordable homes, the fund sub-vents the cost of facilitating infrastructure to a maximum amount of €50,000 per home. By leveraging the value of this funding and that of their land, local authorities can then develop homes and make them available to purchase or rent at below open market values.
To date, a total funding of €127 million from overall SSF of €310 million has been approved in principle to provide infrastructural work that will support 35 projects in 14 local authorities, and facilitate the delivery of in the region of 3,200 more affordable homes. It is my intention to issue an Open Call for proposals to local authorities under the SSF to all local authorities shortly.
My Department does not fund the construction cost of affordable housing or approve the contracting and scheduling processes. These responsibilities have been retained by each Local Authority. As such, it is not directly comparable to the existing process for quarterly reporting in respect of social housing. Notwithstanding this, my Department will ensure it maintains close co-operation with local authorities and will make available details regarding the delivery of more affordable homes as the scheme develops.
