Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)

Part V of the Planning and Development Acts 2000 to 2004 is fully operational and all relevant residential planning applications are now subject to a Part V agreement. Apart from the provision of housing units to the local authority on or off-site, an agreement under Part V may provide for a range of other options. Notwithstanding the availability of these options, my Department's stated preference, which has been communicated to local authorities, is for the provision of housing units whether on-site or off-site.

Under Part V agreements with developers, a total of 508 affordable housing units were acquired by local authorities up to the end of December 2004, 1,215 affordable units were in the course of acquisition and a further 2,260 were earmarked for acquisition on foot of Part V agreements with developers. In addition to the affordable housing units, nearly 300 social units have been acquired together with 12 land transfers to local authorities involving over 11 hectares, a further 156 sites have also been transferred and some €11 million has been received in payments in lieu and under the withering levy. These figures demonstrate the effectiveness and further potential of Part V. I am confident that the Part V arrangement will contribute significantly to the provision of social and affordable housing in the future.

Under the affordable housing initiative substantial progress continues to be made. Over 70 sites have been identified on State or local authority lands, which, including Part V, have a potential yield exceeding 10,000 affordable housing units, meeting the target proposed by the parties to the pay agreement. To date, the initiative has delivered nearly 500 units, including from Part V. Delivery will continue throughout 2005, with an estimated 1,350 units forecast for completion and projects with a potential of 2,200 units either under construction or commencing construction during 2005. Projects with an estimated potential of 3,400 units will commence construction during 2006.

To promote the earliest possible delivery of units, a fast-tracking mechanism for delivery of units has been agreed and is being implemented. This followed a pilot land exchange arrangement for a 0.4 acre city centre site at Harcourt Terrace Lane which is to be exchanged for 193 additional affordable units to be made available on a phased basis over the next nine months. Some 140 of the units will be delivered in 2005 with the balance of 53 available early next year. In light of the positive outcome of the pilot land swap, a number of other sites will be developed using the same model.

I assure the House that there is a strong commitment in Government to deliver on this initiative and I believe that the substantial progress made to date and our arrangements for accelerating delivery emphasise this commitment.

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