Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It is a very prominent site and is very desirable also. I have discussed this directly with the Land Development Agency, LDA, and asked it to scope that out. We need more delivery for affordable purchase or affordable cost rental in particular areas. There will be another significant site in Cromcastle, which is close to the Deputy and he has advocated for, and there are more in Fingal too. The LDA will deliver significant developments and housing completions this year. Shanganagh will continue. Barnageeragh in Skerries will be getting on site very soon as well.

Across all the different initiatives, we are seeing a substantial increase in momentum. That is borne out, again, in the commencement figures I mentioned to Deputies this morning. We have seen a 42% year-on-year increase in October commencements. Part of that is driven by the development levy waiver to make schemes that were not viable viable. Part of it is due to the momentum that is being built up within the sector. We are still very focused on affordable housing delivery through our local authorities. That is why the allocation within this subhead to provide €50 million to purchase lands for affordable housing delivery is very important. More than 60 schemes with local authorities have been approved already to deliver 4,500 affordable purchase homes. South Dublin County Council has started the most significant local authority cost-rental-led scheme as well. We are doing all of this while having a high-cost environment out there. Funding costs are much higher because of interest rate increases, in development funding as well. That is why the State needs to be involved and why we need schemes such as secure tenancy affordable rental, STAR, and the Croí Cónaithe cities scheme. We need to continue with the CREL changes we have made. That is why we made the reallocation for quite a significant additional spend for cost-rental homes.