Ms Ann Doherty:

I thank the committee for inviting us to report on housing delivery in Cork city. I am joined by my colleagues Mr. Geaney, assistant chief executive, Mr. Ó Donnabháin, director of services with responsibility for housing, and Mr. Reidy, director of services with responsibility for strategic and economic development.

As regards social housing delivery and targets, in the three-year period from 2019-21, a total of 3,698 social housing supports were delivered in Cork City Council’s administrative area. Of these, 847 units were provided using the build delivery mechanism, 294 homes were acquired, 218 homes were leased and 2,339 tenancies were created and supported through the housing assistance payment, HAP, and the rental accommodation scheme, RAS.

In terms of future delivery of social housing, under our housing delivery action plan there is a pipeline to provide 2,399 homes by 2026. This is made up of 2,134 homes to be delivered by build, including Part V, and 265 homes by lease. In 2022, a total of 691 homes will be delivered, which will be achieved through a combination of 515 homes by build, 122 homes by leasing, and 54 homes by acquisitions. Right now, there are 49 projects under construction which will deliver over 957 homes when completed. A further six projects that will yield 154 homes are due to commence on site before the end of 2022. The strong pipeline delivery is reached by activating city council-owned sites, the competitive dialogue procurement process, partnership with the approved housing body, AHB, sector, turnkey scheme acquisitions and Part V, with further housing development under way with the Land Development Agency.

As regards right-sizing schemes, in the past three years, Cork City Council built 41 right-sizing homes for older people. Construction of an additional 89 homes will be completed by the end of the year. These schemes are spread across five sites, all of which were either derelict or vacant.

On affordable delivery and targets, under the housing delivery action plan Cork City Council has a target to deliver 1,737 affordable homes of which 378 homes will be provided by the city council. The balance of 1,359 homes will be developed by the AHB sector and the Land Development Agency.

Cork City Council currently has four affordable housing schemes under construction that will deliver 215 homes. Of this, 135 affordable homes will be completed in 2022 and the remaining 80 homes will be completed in 2023. The AHB sector is delivering an additional 105 cost-rental homes across two schemes in 2022. Other schemes are at planning and pre-planning stages.

The delivery of both, via affordable housing, have been affected by well documented externalities. They are the Covid-19 pandemic, cost inflation, supply chain challenges and general market uncertainty. Part V housing is also reliant on the private sector delivery. That stated, Cork City Council remains strongly committed to continuing to deliver a strong programme to achieve our housing targets.

Vacancy and dereliction are key issues that relate to the fabric of the city. There is significant public discourse and, indeed, frustration regarding vacancy and dereliction. I will highlight some key facts in so far as these issues relate to Cork city.

As the members of this committee are aware, not all vacant houses are derelict. This is important because the instruments to address dereliction are not the same as those available to address vacancy. The city council's vacant homes and derelict sites team is working on a portfolio of just over 460 properties, which includes both vacant homes and derelict sites.

As members will know, the definition of dereliction is set out in the Derelict Sites Act. A key consideration of Cork City Council, in the first instance, is whether the property is safe and habitable. Where possible we also seek to determine the specific circumstances of the owners of each property. This is important as property owners may be facing difficult circumstances which led to the unsightly presentation or dereliction of their property. The city council engages with property owners who are actively seeking to remove dereliction through the planning process or by disposal of the site. If this engagement does not yield satisfactory results then we will move to place the property on the derelict sites register although, as one would expect, this is a long process.

Today, there are 110 sites on the derelict sites register, which is the highest number since the register was established. Measures to support regeneration and remove dereliction include repair and lease; buy and renew; and the living city. In addition, Cork City Council provides grants to support the development of premises in architectural conservation areas. In the last five years the total amount is €1.23 million and, as of January 2022, there was €4.1 million due from the derelict sites levy.

Cork City Council compulsorily acquired 22 sites under derelict sites legislation. It acquires a derelict site in the knowledge that not all sites are suitable for social housing and alternative solutions may be required to remove dereliction. That stated, over the last five years a total of 619 social and affordable housing homes were delivered or are under construction by the city council on vacant, derelict and regeneration sites. A further 206 homes are in the pipeline at these sites. This equates to a total of 825 homes that are spread over 50 such sites. This points to the relative complexity of bringing regeneration to these difficult sites. It also highlights the impact that the development of these sites will have across the city in terms of providing homes and regenerating neighbourhoods.

I shall now focus on vacant properties. According to the Revenue Commissioners at the end of June 2022 as much as 2.6% of properties in Cork City are vacant, of which in the order of 50% are vacant for fewer than 12 months. This information correlates with a survey of vacant homes that was conducted by Cork City Council in 2018. The reasons for vacancy vary. The new vacant house tax will add to the instruments that are available to address vacancies.

The work on vacant homes and derelict sites is led by a vacant homes officer who, in turn, is supported by a dedicated team. There is a cross-directorate working group that is made up of planning, property, law, housing and finance who work on derelict sites in the city. This team considers the suitability of sites for acquisition or disposal and the use of derelict sites for housing or regeneration purposes, along with other instruments that could address dereliction and vacancy.

To conclude, while we face a range of challenges there is considerable work under way by Cork City Council and our partners to achieve the targets of our housing action plan to deliver a total of 4,136 social and affordable homes in Cork city by 2026.