Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 April 2024
661. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to list, in tabular form, the community and communal facilities funding options available for new mixed tenure housing developments. [14642/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraWhen referring to mixed tenure housing developments, I assume that the question refers to housing developments led by either local authorities or Approved Housing Bodies, with a tenure mix of social and cost rental and/or affordable purchase.
There are a number of funding streams for the delivery of social and affordable housing developments, each with its own approval process:
• Social Housing Investment Programme (SHIP) – Local Authorities social housing.
• Payment & Availability Agreements coupled with Capital Advance Leasing Facility (P&A/CALF) – AHBs social housing.
• Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS) – AHB social housing.
• Affordable Housing Fund (AHF) – Local Authority delivery of affordable purchase and cost rental.
• Cost Rental Equity Loan (CREL) – AHB cost rental.
In line with Quality Housing for Sustainable Communities (found at: www.gov.ie/en/publication/24d9e-quality-housing-for-sustainable-communities-design-guidelines/), when considering any new development, attention must be given to the availability of key services and amenities, such as shops, schools (including pre-school facilities), churches, parks and playing fields, community meeting places, recreation and leisure facilities. Many new schemes will be relatively small and located within existing settlements where such facilities already exist.
For larger proposals, schemes that form part of larger developments or strategic framework plans and for individual schemes, the provision of services and amenities either within or adjacent to the site of a proposed scheme may need to be considered. Sources of funding for the capital cost and the management and maintenance costs of such facilities should be established at the early planning stage of the project.
The requirement for communal and community facilities will be determined by the scale of the development, the dwelling mix and the needs of intended residents.
For example, in apartment schemes, as outlined in Sustainable Urban Housing Design Standards for New Apartments: Guidelines for Planning Authorities (2022) (found at: www.gov.ie/en/publication/16edd-sustainable-urban-housing-design-standards-for-new-apartments-guidelines-for-planning-authorities-2022/), communal rooms may be provided, particularly in some larger developments, such as communal laundry facilities or communal spaces for bicycle parking and storage as well as communal amenity spaces, such as a recreational play area for children. Other communal facilities may include community or meeting rooms or a management/maintenance office on-site.
Funding may be available for communal facilities required as a condition of planning permission for a mixed tenure development, on the basis of assessment and approval by the Department, on an apportioned basis by tenure type and subject to specific conditions of the funding stream.
Additional community facilities may be included to support the establishment and building of new communities within new mixed tenure housing developments, where practical and compatible with the needs of occupants and not already reasonably catered for in the immediate vicinity of the development.
Depending on the funding stream, capital funding for additional community facilities can be supported covering the cost of shell and core construction only.
In addition to specific housing funding streams, the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) managed by my Department is available to support unlocking residential and mixed-use development to be delivered within the existing built-up footprints of our cities and large towns.
In tandem with the funding sources listed below from my Department, there exists a number of funding programmes from other government departments and agencies such as those provided by the Department of Rural and Community Development including:
• Community Centres Investment Fund (CCIF)
• Libraries Capital Programme
• Local Enhancement Programme (LEP).
Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage Funding for Community and Communal Facilities
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- |
Social Housing |
Cost Rental |
|
Funding Sources |
· SHIP – LA · CALF/P&A – AHB subject to standard limits. · Communal Facilities Grants Scheme funded through the National Lottery - AHB |
AHF – LA CREL – AHB |
Funding may be available for communal facilities required as a condition of planning permission for a mixed tenure development, on the basis of assessment and approval by the Department, on an apportioned basis by tenure type and subject to specific conditions of the funding stream.
