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Local Authorities

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 July 2021

Tuesday, 6 July 2021

Ceisteanna (247)

Eoin Ó Broin

Ceist:

247. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the requirements his Department has placed on local authorities (details supplied) with respect to the advancement of the listed developments. [36380/21]

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Freagraí scríofa

Increasing the supply of public, social and affordable homes is priority of this Government. The Programme for Government includes a commitment to deliver 50,000 new social homes with a focus on new build homes. This commitment was underpinned by investment of €3.3bn towards housing programmes in Budget 2021. Subject to the impact of COVID-19, this investment will fund the delivery of 12,750 new social homes in 2021, including 9,500 new build homes.

In progressing this major construction programme it is important to pursue timely delivery while also ensuring value for money in terms of Exchequer funding. In this regard, social housing projects, like all publicly-funded construction projects, must comply with the Government’s Public Spending Code and Capital Works Management Framework, the objectives of which are to ensure greater cost certainty, better value for money and financial accountability.

My Department, working with local authorities has sought to streamline the four-stage pre-construction process for social housing and to introduce other measures to increase the pace of delivery. Local authorities have also been able to reduce the pre-construction timeline further using design and build frameworks. Off-site construction has also been used to reduce local authority construction timelines.

The social housing project at Nangor Road, which is being progressed by South Dublin County Council and will deliver 93 social homes, is advancing through the 4 stage process utilised for publicly funded capital projects and was granted Stage 3 approval (pre-tender approval) in December 2020. The Council is currently preparing a Stage 4 application (tender) for submission to my Department. Given the scale of this project along with the requirements of the Public Spending Code at the time of the original submission in 2019, the Council submitted a Cost Effectiveness Analysis. This was assessed and approved by my Department and meets all the requirements of the relevant Public Spending Code from 2013.

The Clonburris Strategic Development Zone project will include the delivery of some 2,500 social and affordable homes by South Dublin County Council. My Department is actively engaged with the Council and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to bring this project forward and ensure that the first step of the 2019 Public Spending Code Project Lifecycle, the Strategic Assessment Review, is completed accordingly. The project will continue through the various steps of the Project Lifecycle of the Public Spending Code in parallel with the Stage applications for funding to my Department as the individual phases develop. There are two phases currently being progressed; Phase 1, Kishogue South West, Clonburris will deliver 274 new social and affordable homes while Phase 2, The Canal Extension, Clonburris will deliver 113 social and affordable homes.

South Dublin County Council also applied for and received approval in principle for Service Site Funding for Clonburris to assist in the delivery of affordable and cost rental homes.

There are currently two housing projects being progressed at St Michael’s Estate. The first, the Lands at Emmet Road, is a mixed tenure development consisting of 30% social and 70% cost rental units. My Department has been engaging with Dublin City Council to progress this important development which is currently Stage 1 approved for the social housing element. Dublin City Council has submitted a Strategic Assessment Report and is currently preparing a Preliminary Business Case in line with Public Spending Code requirements.

Dublin City Council also applied for and received approval in principle for Service Site Funding for the Lands at Emmet Road to assist in the delivery of affordable and cost rental homes.

The second housing project is St. Michael’s Estate Housing with Supports Pilot Project. This consists of 52 homes for senior citizens and is being developed by the Circle Voluntary Housing Association Ltd. This project has Stage 3 Approval from my Department and is expected to complete in Q4 2024. Dublin City Council has advised that it is currently out to tender.

The status of social housing construction projects is updated and published on a quarterly basis by my Department. The quarterly publication is a comprehensive status report of social housing construction schemes for all local authority areas, with details such as the project locations and a range of information relating to their advancement, whether completed or on site or progressing through planning, design and construction. The most recent publication covers the period up to the end of Q1 2021 and is available at the following link: rebuildingireland.ie/news/minister-obrien-publishes-social-housing-construction-status-report-for-q1-2021/.

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