Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 29 March 2022

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government

Social and Affordable Housing: Discussion (Resumed)

Mr. Frank Curran:

We certainly can do that. I was part of a meeting only the other day on that very question of how we can work in a more collaborative way and share information. We have transferred zoned land to AHBs. We mentioned Enniskerry Road earlier and there are to be 50 units for cost rental or affordable purchase while 100 social units are being developed by both Tuath and Respond, and they are pretty much constructed at this stage and being allocated. We work on that basis.

As I said, our priority is own-build on our own lands but it is really important that we, the approved housing bodies and the Land Development Agency know what each other is doing. We are not competing with each other and we really do not want to compete with advance purchase or sites with uncommenced planning permissions, etc. It is really important we share information and the directors of services for housing know what is happening with each approved housing body in their area and the Land Development Agency. We must work collaboratively. That is absolutely essential.