Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 15 July 2021
227. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the details of all councils that have submitted an application for serviced sites funding in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39022/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraTo date, my Department has issued two broad-based Serviced Sites Fund (SSF) calls for proposals to local authorities. Funding of almost €200 million has been approved in principle in support of 40 infrastructure projects in 14 local authority areas across 9 counties, which will assist in the delivery of almost 4,200 affordable homes for purchase or for rent.
Details of 35 SSF projects which received approval in principle under the two SSF calls to date are available on the Department's website as follows.
Call 1 www.gov.ie/en/press-release/dbc55-minister-murphy-gives-the-go-ahead-for-ten-local-authority-sites-for-affordable-housing-under-the-serviced-sites-fund/
Call 2 www.gov.ie/en/press-release/eaf39-minister-murphy-approves-84m-in-funding-for-25-local-authority-sites-to-support-the-delivery-of-approximately-1770-affordable-homes-nationally-under-the-serviced-sites-fund-ssf/
In addition to these projects, approval in principle has also been given to five further applications for SSF funding, namely, Dublin City Council’s projects in Emmet Road and Oscar Traynor Road, Fingal County Council’s projects in Ballymastone, Donabate, and Hayestown, Rush and Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council’s project in Shanganagh.
Contained within the Programme for Government was a commitment to extend the Serviced Sites Fund. In line with this commitment, a review of SSF progress and projects to date was undertaken and, having regard to feedback from local authorities, a number of significant improvements to the scheme have now been agreed and communicated to local authorities. These include: renaming it the Affordable Housing Fund and the purpose and function of funding support available will be to assist in the delivery of affordable; expanding the scope of costs covered; taking applications as they are developed on a rolling basis; allowing a direct subvention of the all-in development cost, which may include land purchase costs; and, funding may now exceed the current maximum of €50,000 per affordable dwelling on a stepped scale to €100,000.
The improved and expanded funding options will greatly support delivery of affordable housing by local authorities.
